A man who threw a deadly punch at a Clark County firefighter is going to prison. Richard Jero was sentenced to up to four years for his role in the death of Darren Van Dyke. But as News's 3's Mitch Truswell tells us, the sentence doesn't leave Van Dyke's family satisfied.
Darren Van Dyke was a well known and well respected firefighter. But he wasn't just a firefighter, he was also on the hazardous materials team and search and rescue squad. Today, in a courtroom packed with firefighters, Darren's family got the answer they hoped for, and now the chance to move on.
"I always knew the possibility of danger was ever present, and if I lost him doing what he loved I could have more readily accepted that, but to have him taken in the manner he was taken, I cannot accept. My life will never be the same."
Darren Van Dyke's family is still coping with the loss of someone they loved. A punch thrown by Richard Jero caused Van Dyke to hit his head on a concrete floor. He lost consciousness and never recovered. Two days after that punch, Darren died.
Today, Darren's family, with support from a courtroom of friends, heard how much Darren is missed. "I have a hole in my heart. It's never going to close, and I'm going to live the rest of my life without my son."
Jero did apologize, saying he never meant to cause someone's death. "I never meant to hurt him, never meant for anyone to get hurt. Not one day passes that I don't think about Darren or his family."
Jero pleaded guilty in a plea agreement to involuntary manslaughter. The maximum sentence under the agreement is four years behind bars, which he received. That allows Darren's family a sense of justice, but none of it brings Darren back.
Darren Van Dyke left behind a large family, including a fianc
