Kuran Demetrius Kinley received what the judge called, in effect, “a life sentence” for fatally shooting Trayveon Triplett at a Valparaiso apartment on June 2, 2025.
Judge Jeffrey Clymer of Porter Superior Court 2 on Friday sentenced the 26-year-old Kinley to 60 years total on a murder with enhancement charge.
“In reality, it is almost, if not, a life sentence,” Clymer said.
Mitch Peters, Kinley’s recently appointed defense attorney, and Deputy Prosecutor Kire Pavlovski entered a new plea agreement in the case Friday.
In May, Kinley, of Valparaiso, entered a guilty plea to charges of murder with an enhancement, criminal recklessness and carrying a handgun.
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Under the new plea agreement, Kinley pleaded guilty only to the murder with an enhancement charge. The criminal recklessness and handgun felony charges were dismissed.
Clymer noted that under the agreement, Kinley was still receiving the maximum sentence of 55 years on the murder charge plus an additional five-year enhancement because a gun was used in the commission of the crime when he had a prior felony conviction.
Kuran pleaded guilty to a Level 6 felony battery charge in Lake County in 2020, according to online court records. Two felony robbery charges were dismissed as part of that plea.
In open court, Kinley answered “correct” when he was read statements concerning his guilt for fatally shooting Triplett at a Chicago Street apartment.
A probable cause statement says that Kinley, who lived in the same apartment complex, was upset with Triplett’s presence at the Chicago Street residence at the same time his child by his ex-girlfriend was there. Kinley shot Triplett several times.
None of Triplett’s family members were present during the sentencing hearing.
But Clymer said the pre-sentencing report he received contained numerous statements from family members of Triplett that were “heartbreaking.”
“It’s sad,” Clymer said.
Kinley read his handwritten apology from a yellow sheet of paper.
“I apologize to all of his family, friends and loved ones,” Kinley said.
Kinley said the events of June 2, 2025, at the Chicago Street apartment should have never happened. He said that two lives were lost that day — Triplett’s and his own.
“No words can describe,” Kinley said. “That being said, I am sorry.”
Peters said that Kinley was deeply touched that Triplett’s mother communicated to him that he was forgiven. Peters said that she expressed hope that Kinley would “find God” during his time in prison.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.