Homeless Man Sentenced to 22 years for Shooting at Venice Bar

A 48-year-old man was sentenced to 22 years in state prison for shooting a bar patron during an argument at a Venice bar, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said.

Robert Leo Mewhorter, a transient, pleaded no contest on Jan. 10 to one count of attempted murder and admitted allegations of using a handgun and causing great bodily injury.

On March 7, 2018, Mewhorter got into an argument at a Venice bar, prosecutors said. The defendant left and returned soon after and opened fire, injuring the victim, the prosecutor said.

He was arrested near the restaurant on March 8 last year, the LAPD told media. Mewhorter told officers at the time that he was offended by something the victim said.

"Those few words spilled over to a physical altercation between the victim and suspect," Lt. Randy Goddard said.

"That's the sad thing about it," Goddard added. "Over simple words, this turns into a shooting where somebody could have lost their life."

Nine gunshots and the sounds of bystanders screaming can be heard in cellphone footage obtained by KTLA. The clip also shows a man brandishing a firearm.