In addition to the prison sentence, Zarka was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service within 9 months of his release.
Before he was sentenced, the courtroom heard emotional impact statements from Mark Garrity Jr.'s parents and friends.
Impact Statements
Amy Garrity, Mark's Mother: "Mark isn't in pain anymore and he is perfect. And he is my son. I love you forever. I like you for always. As long as I'm living my baby you'll be. Mark will never be forgotten."
"Please understand my son will always be loved and missed beyond words. Mark did not deserve his life to end that fateful day. In order to heal and maybe one day have this agonizing pain."
"I found out that Mark was stabbed at 3:40 p.m. the same time I was having chest pains. I know this was my instinct as a mother, and I was wondering why I hadn't heard from Mark that day. He called me every day. If only I could have gotten to him and held him."
"I need to be clear and say without doubt that my son was the strongest. Bravest soul I ever knew. And I'm proud of him. I'm proud of you, Mark, and what you did in court and conquered in your short life. It was a privilege to watch you grow up, and I will cherish the memories for the rest of my life."
Tammy Early, Garrity Family Friend: "Taz chose to play the jury, judge, and ultimately the executioner."
Mike Triesh, Zarka's friend spoke on his behalf during the sentencing: "He's very well known and very well known in that store. I watched him a couple of times and people come to his store if people are hungry. He will pull money out of his pocket and give it to them."
Zarka apologized to the Garrity family before he was sentenced.
"I'm sorry what happened from the bottom of my heart. I really wish peace to this family in their hearts. He's with God now."
Judge Keith Gregory had some tough words for Zarka before sentencing him. "I want to be clear about this. His addiction did not kill him. Mr. Zarka did. If that's who he is, why wasn't he that person on April 6, 2023? Why not just give Mark the drink? He may not have had enough money to pay for the ice cream and the Gatorade? But did he deserve to die for that?"
"Mr. Zarka had a choice. In that (surveillance) video he gave a little boy chocolate. He gave a little boy chocolate. That was somebody's son. He could have given the Garrity's son that Gatorade."
Zarka's friends spoke after the sentencing. They said he was a forgiving guy.
Iyad Kuran, Zarka's friend: "He's a forgiving guy. He's given a lot of stuff. I don't think that he would kill somebody for Gatorade. He has a heart of gold."
The jury found Zarka guilty of voluntary manslaughter Wednesday morning after deliberating for six hours.
After the sentencing, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman praised the jury for their diligence and participation on the case. "They are very methodical, analytical, that they take serious their responsibility that they go through the evidence detail by detail. And I continue to be impressed and proud."
WATCH Garrity's parents full testimony HERE
Family of Mark Garrity Jr. speaks after guilty verdict
Timeline to the trial, verdict and sentencing
Thursday, April 6, 2023 - The owner of Taz's Supermarket One gets into an altercation with a customer who he accused of shoplifting. The owner, Tasieer 'Taz' Zarka stabs the customer, Mark Garrity Jr.. multiple times. Garrity Jr. dies at the hospital. The altercation and stabbing are recorded on the store's cameras and customers recorded some of it on their cell phones.
SEE ALSO | 'It's devastating.' NC parents trying to cope after son stabbed to death by a Raleigh store owner
April 20, 2023 - Zarka is charged with second-degree murder in the customer's stabbing death. He was given no bond and remained in jail for more than a month.
May 15, 2023 - Wake County grand jury indicts Taz store owner on second-degree murder
June 30, 2023 - Zarka who was being held without bond, gets a hearing and receives a $1M bond. He also has to surrender his passport.
December 2024
Jury selection started on Dec. 9 and was completed by the end of the day Dec. 10. It was composed of nine men and three women.
Wednesday, December 11 - Trial starts. Both sides present opening statements. The prosecutor showed the video of the altercation between Zarka and Mark Garrity Jr. It was captured on the store's surveillance cameras and customers' cell phones.
Friday, December 13 - Zarka testifies in his defense after the jury takes a field trip to visit the scene of the deadly stabbing.
December 16 - Zarka continues testimony. The trial wraps after both sides present closing arguments.
On Tuesday, December 15, Judge Keith Gregory instructed the nine men and three women to find Taiseer "Taz" Zarka guilty of second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, or a not-guilty verdict. Shortly after, the jury asked to again review the video from inside the store that captured the altercation and stabbing and cell phone video captured by witnesses.
The judge declared a mistrial late Wednesday on the aggravated assault factor. Therefore, the aggravated assault factor will no longer be considered during sentencing, and concludes that Zarka will be sentenced only on the voluntary manslaughter conviction.
Garrity's parents released this statement about the verdict:
"We are disappointed by the verdict and WILL continue to fight for our son, Mark, and so many others that didn't get their voice heard. Finally, after 19 long months of freedom for Taz, we are thankful he is locked up." - Amy & Mark Garrity
Taiseer "Taz" Zarka was charged after stabbing customer Mark Garrity Jr several times inside the store during an altercation. Zarka and his defense attorney said it was in self-defense after Garrity threatened to shoot him (Zarka). Zarka had accused Garrity of stealing a bottle of Gatorade and the altercation turned violent.
SEE ALSO | Parents await trial of store owner charged with killing their son: 'It's draining'
Zarka's defense team argued during the trial that his action was done in self-defense.
"It's traumatic to see the death of a human being," said Zarka's attorney Karl Knudsen. He went on to refer to Garrity as a "troubled young man".