A Hazelwood man convicted of breaking into a Wilkinsburg home and killing a man who had moments before been holding his 11-month-old granddaughter will spend the rest of his life in state prison.

Brandon Franklin, 27, offered no apology when given a chance to speak Thursday at his sentencing for second-degree murder, and no one spoke on his behalf.

According to investigators, Franklin and another man burst into a house on Woodlawn Avenue the night of Nov. 14, 2019.

Franklin, who did not wear a mask, charged up the stairs, kicked in the bedroom door and found Raymond Jackson, 42, holding his granddaughter.

Jackson put her down on the bed, and Franklin shot him four times.

Both men then fled.

The second suspect, who did wear a mask, has never been identified.

At Franklin’s trial in August, the prosecution presented evidence from a security camera in the living room of the house that captured video of the unmasked attacker’s face, as well as the distinctive pink-and-black handgun he carried.

After distributing the images to local media in the days after the attack, witnesses came forward to identify Franklin — and the gun he had.

Following a weeklong trial and five hours of deliberations, the jury found Franklin guilty of second-degree murder, burglary and two counts of conspiracy.

The case had previously gone to trial in 2023, but the jury could not reach a verdict.

During Thursday’s hearing, Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Elliot Howsie told Franklin he had repeated chances to turn his life around, including through the assistance of family members and programs.

“It was a series of interventions that all failed,” the judge said. “For me, it feels like there were a lot of attempts to keep you from becoming involved in the adult system.

“And yet, here we stand.”

Howsie called it “a wasted opportunity. A wasted life.”

Deputy District Attorney Ilan Zur told the court that Franklin didn’t even know the victim, yet entered the house with his gun drawn while the family was watching a Thursday night Steelers game.

He told the jury during the trial it was an execution.

“All for what?”

Zur also noted that Franklin was offered a plea deal to third-degree murder that would have given him a 15-to-30-year prison sentence, but he turned it down.

“He said no to the offer, and here we are,” Zur said. “It’s life.”

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