Judge to issue ruling on sentence for man convicted of killing Nashville nurse

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The man convicted of shooting and killing a Nashville nurse delivered a statement before he was scheduled to be sentenced on Friday.

A Davidson County jury found Devaunte Hill guilty in the death of Caitlyn Kaufman. The Nashville nurse was shot and killed while driving to work in December 2020.

Devaunte Hill delivered a statement describing his decision to shoot Kaufman as dumb and irrational. He apologized to Kaufman’s family and vowed to become a better person in prison.

Kaufman’s mother, Diane, delivered an impact statement Friday morning describing her daughter as a dedicated nurse. She said her daughter sat with COVID patients and held their hand when family members weren’t allowed into the hospital, and even stopped to help victims of a car crash.

“This was my daughter, and this was the person he murdered,” Diane said.

Diana Kaufman asked the judge to consider a life sentence for Hill. “I would hate for another family to be handed the life sentence that has been handed to me by Mr. Hill,” he said.

Hill’s sister, Fredrica Williams, spoke as well. She said Hill’s parents were incarcerated during his childhood. Williams also said Hill shot his grandmother, nephew and sister when he was a teenager.

During Hill’s sentencing, Judge Dalton said multiple mitigating factors kept her from making a decision today. A ruling will be made in writing after March 10.

Hill was convicted of second-degree murder in January and faces 15 to 25 years in prison.

James Cowan, who was driving the car Hill shot from, was found not guilty.

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