Nineteen-year-old Evan Holmes apologized to his victim as he was sentenced this morning to 18 months in prison for shooting the other teen in the foot.

The victim of the April 30, 2010 shooting was 17-year-old Idris Elahi, who himself is incarcerated on a charge of murder.

“In no way, shape or form were my actions acceptable,” Holmes said. “I apologize to Idris and his family for the harm I did and I wish the family the best of luck given their circumstances.”

Prosecutor Stephen M. Carney said Holmes was trying to resolve a fight between two groups of people when he fired a shot into the ground and Elahi was struck in the foot. The two teens had known each other for years. Elahi is accused of fatally stabbing Matthew Chew in New London on Oct. 29, 2010.

Noting several young people had come to court in support of Holmes, Public Defender Bruce Sturman called on them to stop the violence.

“We have seen an alarming increase in violence, deadly violence, among our young people,” Sturman said. He said he has seen too many teens coming out of the door from the courthouse lockup to face serious charges stemming from assaults and shootings. The sentences for such crimes are lengthy, he said.

“To me it seems such a tremendous waste,” Sturman said. “I urge upon them, think twice before you act.”