URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A Champaign man has been sentenced to 31 years in prison. On Friday, Derrick Humphrey Jr. pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder.

The victim’s mom said Humphrey swerved in front of U of I student Liam Gasser while driving on Prospect Ave. near Town Center Boulevard in 2021. Gasser honked to warn him, and Humphrey shot him in the neck.

Gasser’s mother talked about how she and her son are handling it.

“We’re happy for a sentence,” said Gasser’s mother, Terry Von Thaden. “We’re happy that he’s going away for attempted murder.”

Humphrey shot Gasser in October 2021. Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz was able to provide more details on the situation.

“The driver of that other vehicle pulled out a firearm and fired a shot in Liam’s direction,” Rietz said. “It struck Liam in the neck.”

Rietz said Humphrey pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder. He received 31 years in an Illinois Department of Corrections facility and has to serve at least 85% of the time. Von Thaden said her son played a big role in the case.

“Scott Larson is an amazing state’s attorney and he allowed us to be collaborative in this, throughout this,” she said. “And he allowed Liam’s voice to be heard, which was so important to us.”

Von Thaden said Larson even brought Gasser into the final part of the case. She said if they didn’t take this deal, the trial could’ve dragged on for a year or more, and they both wanted to move on.

However, there’s still a long road to recovery ahead for Gasser. He was just in the hospital until two weeks ago with a vein issue from his wheelchair, and his mom said he will never be able to live an independent life.

Despite this, Gasser is no stranger to adversity.

“I felt it was really important that the court know the hardships that Liam had faced in his earlier life and overcome,” Von Thaden said.

Now, he’s back in grad school studying kinesiology and going back to physical therapy to regain movement skills.

“Liam is now looking forward to the rest of his life and doing the best he can,” Von Thaden said.

She also gave credit to the Champaign Police Department for how well they conducted their investigation.