The 22-year-old man found guilty of fatally shooting University of Michigan medical student Paul DeWolf was sentenced to life in prison without parole Wednesday. Immediately after sentencing, DeWolf's father, Thom, and Dajeon Franklin's mother, Kimberly Hearns, emotionally embraced in the courtroom aisle. One side of the courtroom was filled with family members of the murdered medical student and on the other side with family of the convicted murderer. "It's very difficult for our family and also for Dajeon's family and we had the opportunity to express that," DeWolf said in the hallway of the Washtenaw County Trial Court afterward. "It helps to know their family is on the same page as we are, that they're feeling the hurt, the losses." Out in the hallway, a teary Hearns expressed a similar sentiment. "I'm sorry we had to come together under these conditions," said Hearns. Franklin was sentenced to life with no parole on one count of felony murder and to lesser prison terms on home invasion and firearm charges. He was found guilty by a jury in October of felony murder, first-degree home invasion, conspiracy to commit home invasion, second-degree home invasion and felony firearm. Franklin was also ordered to pay restitution around $12,000. Franklin maintained his innocence when Judge Archie Brown gave him a chance to speak. "I didn't do this," Franklin said. "This is not something I would do. Anyone who knows me knows the type of person I am. A loving person. Fun to be with. I know what I did. It's a loss on both ends. I'm just sorry it had to work out this way." Franklin was convicted on charges that he broke into DeWolf's Phi Ro Sigma fraternity, 220 N. Ingalls St. in Ann Arbor along with Joei Jordan, 20, and Shaquille Jones, 21, in July 2013. Prosecutors allege the three burglars stumbled upon DeWolf, who was sleeping in his basement bedroom. DeWolf and Franklin, who was the only one with a gun, struggled. The gun went off and fatally hit DeWolf in the neck, according to the prosecution. Thom DeWolf and Paul's sister, Rebekah DeWolf, were given the chance to read victim impact statements to the judge. "Dajeon Franklin has caused unimaginable pain for his family and mine, as well," Rebekah said. "As a result, all families will be forever changed." She said the day she was informed Paul had been killed was "the worst day of my life." "I fell to the floor and screamed," Rebekah said. Thom DeWolf spoke about his son's potential as a doctor, member of the Air Force, husband and father, all of which was taken away from Paul and the family. "The losses are beyond words as we contemplate all the hopes and dreams that were shattered," Thom said. Many detectives from the Ann Arbor Police Department were on hand for the sentencing and exchanged hugs with the DeWolf family afterward. Police did not wish to comment on the sentencing considering the case is ongoing. Jordan and Jones are headed to trial on murder charges in January. "It's the next phase," Thom said."Then we can truly get on with our lives. Paul's memories will be with us forever."

John Counts covers crime and breaking news for The Ann Arbor News. He can be reached at johncounts@mlive.com or you can follow him on Twitter. Find all Washtenaw County crime stories here.