A 30-year-old Florida man who shot and paralyzed his 24-year-old LGBTQ+ neighbor after months of harassment pleaded guilty to attempted manslaughter and will now face seven years in prison.
The attacker, Tyler Getchell, pleaded guilty last May 4 to shooting Kyle McFarlane. The Florida Times-Union reported Getchell’s sentencing on Monday morning. His sentence requires him to undergo mental health follow-ups after his release from prison and to avoid any contact with the victim or the victim’s family.
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Getchell’s lawyers argued that he should receive a reduced prison sentence considering his lack of prior felony convictions, his five years of service in the Navy, the fact that he remained at the scene of the crime, and his demonstrable remorse for his actions.
In a July 17 public Facebook post, McFarlane wrote, “7 years prison. 2 years community service. 3 years probation. Restitution. You will, indeed, have a long time to think about what you did.”
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“I turned to watch you be taken away. Think about that. One day perhaps, we can be on better terms,” McFarlane continued. “I don’t hate you, Tyler Getchell. I hate your behavior. Enjoy your sentence.”
Getchell shot McFarlane in the back on November 22, 2025. McFarlane had been collecting discarded furniture and wood for a bonfire at his house, but Getchell’s girlfriend confronted him with a belt, threatening to thrash him with it if he didn’t get off their property. Video of the interaction showed that McFarlane was on the land’s “easement” which gave him the legal right to stand there.
McFarlane shoved the girlfriend in self-defense and began leaving the property, but Getchell shot him in the back. The bullet lodged in McFarlane’s spine, paralyzing him from the waist down and affecting his bowel and bladder function. He may regain some function with intensive physical therapy, but because of the bullet’s proximity to his spine, it’s inoperable.
Getchell said he retrieved his gun when he saw McFarlane rummaging through his neighbor’s trash. He also said he saw McFarlane reaching toward his waistband or pocket right before he shot him.
For weeks before the shooting, Getchell had posted anti-gay signs in their windows facing McFarlane’s house — one read “F*ck you tr*nny f*g” in large block letters, First Coast News reported.
Getchell also allegedly walked onto McFarlane’s property to smear dog feces onto his house. He also allegedly put McFarlane’s dogs in McFarlane’s hot garage without water one day.
Getchell and his girlfriend reportedly harassed McFarlane so often that he installed security cameras around his home in fear for his safety.
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