DETROIT – A man was sentenced Thursday in the murder of a Detroit musician who was carjacked and killed Christmas Eve.
Darnell Gene-Arthur Young, 19, was sentenced to 33 to 60 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder June 1.
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A second man, Charles Cox, 33, is set to stand trial beginning June 28.
Anthony Tolson, a Detroit bassist, was driving home on Christmas Eve after performing at a church service when he was fatally shot on Gratiot Avenue. His Chevy Trailblazer, along with Christmas presents Tolson had for his three children and his bass, were stolen.
The SUV was later found abandoned and torched on the city’s west side.
He had just turned 33 a week before.
Tolson’s children, ages 7, 12, and 13, were staying at his mother’s home on Christmas Eve. His mother, Allison Tolson, waited all night for his return. She was greeted by Detroit police at 7 a.m. Christmas Day.
“They snatched him out of the car,” Allison Tolson said. “All they had to do was leave him. Take the car. Everything in that car is replaceable. Cars are replaceable.”
Anthony Tolson had traveled the world as a professional bass player with R&B’s Ne-Yo. They had appeared on “The Tonight Show” and “Saturday Night Live.”
Cox and Young were charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, carjacking, robbery and weapons charges. Young pleaded guilty to the lesser second-degree murder charge.
Allison Tolson said she is relieved that Cox and Young were arrested but is still grieving because nothing can bring her son back.
“It’s overwhelming. It’s horrific. It’s heartbreaking,” Allison Tolson said. “I don’t know how else to describe the agony of it all."
