"I'm not sure I can convey into words what it's like to think you're going to be murdered," Deshong told a Lancaster County judge Monday as he read from a prepared statement, pausing to steady his shaking voice.
Deshong said he tries to forget the shooting, but can't.
"I could feel projectiles enter my face, my neck, my arms," Deshong said. "I thought, 'I can't believe I'm going to die like this.' I remember thinking about how I was trying to help this guy and he was trying to kill me."
Judge Dennis Reinaker sentenced Gary Matthew Burkholder, the 21-year-old man who shot Deshong, to 20 to 40 years in prison during a hearing Monday.
Deshong also shot his former brother-in-law, Steven Wittrien, during an alcohol-fueled rampage in East Earl Township in February 2005.
"I am at a complete loss as to what led to this particular behavior," Judge Dennis Reinaker told Burkholder. "The primary reason for this is the anger and hatred you've had for 21 years ... but I don't know where it came from."
Burkholder pleaded no contest in March to shooting the two men. By pleading no contest, he did not admit committing the crimes but agreed prosecutors could prove he did if the case went to trial.
Prior to the shootings, Burkholder drank about 18 beers and some whiskey, according to police. He went on a rampage in his parents' home, destroyed his bedroom, grabbed a shotgun and fired out a second-story window.
Burkholder's parents; his sister, Wittrien's ex-wife, Jennifer; and their 4-year-old daughter safely fled the house before the shootings and called police.
Wittrien was shot when he arrived at the house to pick up his daughter because he thought she was in danger.
Burkholder shot three times at Wittrien, shattering the window of his truck and hitting him once in the hand. Wittrien then fled the scene.
Doctors removed 50 fragments of buckshot and glass from Wittrien's left hand and other fragments from his chest and forearm.
Deshong arrived as Wittrien was leaving. The police officer was shot in the right arm and face as he parked his police cruiser.
Burkholder fled the house, and police began manhunt for him in East Earl Township. He moved between houses, fields and buildings carrying the shotgun, which was loaded with five rounds.
Burkholder refused to cooperate when found by police and attacked a police dog as police tried to handcuff him.
A second police dog bit Burkholder, and officers used pepper spray and a Taser gun to subdue him.
During his sentencing, Burkholder apologized to Wittrien and Deshong.
"I need to apologize to Steve Wittrien and to Troy Deshong," a sobbing Burkholder said. "I take responsibility for what I did. I didn't mean to do it and don't know why I did it other than the fact that I was drunk. If I had a second chance, I wouldn't do it again."
Burkholder told Reinaker he wants to have a normal life when he is released from prison.
"My hopes for the future is to have a family and get back into the construction business," he said.
Wittrien, who said he lost his landscaping business because of his injuries, spoke directly to Burkholder.
"I don't hate you, son," Wittrien said. "But remember one thing: That was my little girl, and nobody puts her in danger. I've tried to protect my daughter from this. But eventually she will know the truth. People talk."
Burkholder's defense attorney, Jack Kenneff, said a number of factors, including a history of alcohol abuse, a volatile family background and mental health issues, contributed to the shooting. He asked Reinaker to sentence Burkholder to 13 years in prison.
Assistant District Attorney Craig Stedman called the crimes an outrage to society and said a sentence of 13 years would be "insignificant and insulting." Stedman noted that Burkholder fired his shotgun several times.
"It didn't happen once," Stedman said. "He kept reloading, and he hit what he was shooting at. He could have stopped and thought about what he did."
A number of character witnesses, including Burkholder's father, Gary Burkholder Sr., and his former football coach, Steven Leever, spoke on behalf of Burkholder.
Leever described Burkholder as a diligent football player.
"He's a quiet young man who didn't have a lot of enemies," Leever said. "He was very hard-working."
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