A Tampa man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after a jury last week found him guilty of shooting his two children, killing the youngest.

Jermaine Lavanda Bass, 32, was convicted of murder, attempted murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse related to the fatal shooting of 5-year-old Jaylah Bass and the severe wounding of her 8-year-old brother, also named Jermaine but known as “J.J.” Both children were shot in their heads.

Jurors never heard from Bass or his wife and mother of their children during the four-day trial , but both spoke at a sentencing hearing Monday, according to video taken by Fox 13 Tampa Bay inside the Hillsborough County courtroom.

Shirley Bass choked up and shook while addressing the court. She echoed a question that went unanswered last week.

“He’s supposed to be their protector,” she said. “How could a person choose to harm their own child?”

On Aug. 29, 2022, a neighbor near the Bass family’s townhome on Heritage Club Drive, just north of East Fletcher Avenue near the University of South Florida, called 911 about 10:30 p.m. and reported hearing gunshots.

Shortly after, Shirley Bass took the phone and begged for an ambulance.

Deputies arrived and found Jermaine Bass cradling his son, who was bleeding from a wound to his temple.

In an upstairs bedroom, the 5-year-old girl had been shot three times in her head.

Investigators found an empty Glock handgun in a dresser drawer in the master bedroom. Forensic tests identified Bass’ DNA on the weapon, as well as his son’s DNA. The state suggested this was due to DNA transfer, which can happen through indirect contact between objects.

Bass told deputies that night he had accidentally discharged the weapon while trying to take out the magazine — a point disputed by prosecutors, who said the children’s injuries indicated “precise, deliberate shots.”

At his sentencing hearing, Bass again called the shooting an accident, inviting an admonition from the judge.

“The accident you are referring to is the death of your children?” Judge Samantha Ward asked.

When Bass replied “yes,” Ward’s eyes widened in disbelief.

The girl’s mother said she cherished the memories made with her daughter and mourned the moments that were stolen from her “by someone I trusted.”

“There’s never going to be any justice for this,” Shirley Bass said. “Knowing no sentence you receive could ease the pain or bring her back is a harsh reality.”

Richard Romeo, the children’s uncle, called Bass a “coward” and a “loser” and asked the court that his brother-in-law receive the maximum sentence allowable by law.

“There is no amount of time that you will be serving to make this right,” Romeo said.

He recalled a conversation with J.J. after the shooting where he told the boy his sister would watch over him as an angel.

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Laquanza Thomas, Bass’ mother, told the court she will always be there for her son, but maybe she had protected her children too much.

“I still don’t know the answer. I don’t know why. I don’t know none of that,” she said. “If you did do it, it’s a crime of passion,” she said, addressing Bass.

Bass spoke at his sentencing in handcuffs and an orange jail jumpsuit while seated at the defense table. He talked about having a difficult upbringing and said he will always love his wife.

“I’m a good person,” he said. “I made sure my family always had the best.”