A 31-year-old man convicted of gunning down a bartender and firing at customers was sentenced this morning to life in prison without parole.

William Davenport was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Desiderio Rodriguez at a south Broadway bar in 2004. Davenport was also sentenced to 48 years each for five counts of attempted murder.

"You thought about it (the shooting,)" Denver District Judge Christina Habas said to Davenport. "You planned it. It was depraved."

On Nov. 8, 2004, Rodriguez worked an extra shift at Sebastian’s Grill at 102 S. Broadway. The 32-year-old father of three sons wanted to earn extra money for Christmas presents.

Davenport was kicked out earlier in the night for fighting. He entered the bar at closing time, and Rodriguez offered to buy him a drink and apologized for what happened.

Davenport then shot Rodriguez nine times and fired at others in the bar.

Jeffrey Lambert, who was in the bar at the time, said Rodriguez stood up to block gunfire from hitting other people.

"He saved my life," Lambert said. "I’m alive. It can’t be that bad. I can get over this. Desi Rodriguez can’t get over this."

Family and friends filled the courtroom with sobs as they heard the sentence.

"Desi was so special," said his mother, Helen Rodriguez. "It (the sentencing) won’t bring Desi back."