Dec 18, 2024-The Memphis man convicted in the shooting death of pro football player Christian Saulsberry has been sentenced to prison.
In DeSoto County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Mark McDaniel, age 26 of Memphis, was sentenced to a 20-year prison term, followed by 10 years of post-release supervision.
McDaniel could have been sentenced to as many as 40 years in prison but the 20-years were the fewest number of years the judge could issue for a second-degree murder conviction.
Mark McDaniel (DeSoto County Jail photo)
McDaniel was found guilty in November for the death of Saulsberry, a star football player who had just finished his first season playing as a kick returner in the Canadian Football League for the Edmonton Elks.
Saulsberry had reached playing professional football after a stellar career at Northpoint Christian School, Itawamba Community College and the University of West Alabama.
At the time of conviction, District Attorney Matthew Barton provided information that Saulsberry was struck by stray bullets fired by McDaniel during a December 2022 house party in Walls, shortly after his return from his first CFL season.
McDaniel had arrived late to the party, became intoxicated and refused to leave when asked to go.
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The party host and McDaniel got into a physical altercation, which ended with McDaniel going back to his car and returning with a firearm. He proceeded to fire shots indiscriminately into the crowd, striking Saulsberry.
“This was not an accident,” Barton said after the conviction. “This was a reckless, cowardly act by a Memphis man who came to DeSoto County with the intent to cause harm. Christian Saulsberry was a young man with a bright future, and now he is gone, senselessly killed by someone who couldn’t control his own violent impulses.”
Eyewitnesses testified that Saulsberry was an innocent bystander who had no involvement in any of the altercations that night. With his back turned, Saulsberry was struck by two stray bullets and died from his injuries.
