photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

Cir Allen Keith Glover speaks Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Douglas County District Court at his sentencing for second-degree murder. His attorney, Michael Clarke, is at right.

While sentencing a teen to 10 years in prison on Friday for murdering a 17-year-old boy last summer, Judge Stacey Donovan took a moment to note how many people in the courtroom had tears in their eyes.

“It’s a horrible day for everyone,” Donovan told the assembled friends and loved ones of both teens: 19-year-old Cir Allen Keith Glover and 17-year-old Isaiah Neal.

Glover, who will turn 20 on Saturday, pleaded no contest in July to reckless second-degree murder in Neal’s shooting death. He shot Neal, a friend from childhood, multiple times outside Neal’s home on Alabama Street on June 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A woman holds a picture of homicide victim Isaiah Neal, 17, outside the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024.

At Friday’s sentencing, around a dozen of Neal’s friends and family members were in attendance. Many were visibly emotional, and some wore T-shirts with his image that said “Forever Isaiah.” One friend who spoke said Neal was full of light and love and “didn’t just hug you, he embraced you.”

Natasha Neal, Isaiah’s mother, addressed Glover through tears, saying she prayed one day he could bring her closure by telling her “what happened to my baby.” Directly addressing Donovan, Natasha Neal also said she felt a 10-year sentence was not enough time and characterized it as “a slap in the face.”

In his statements, Glover, who also had supporters in attendance, apologized to Isaiah Neal’s family and friends.

“I will live with regret the rest of my life and accept full responsibility for your pain,” Glover said.

Glover was originally charged with second-degree murder in the case, but after a preliminary hearing last October Donovan had ruled that probable cause existed for a first-degree murder charge. At that hearing, the state had said that evidence at trial would show that Isaiah Neal was shot in the back seven times after Glover paid a late-night visit to the family’s apartment.

That trial would never happen, though; on July 7, the day it was set to begin, Glover pleaded to reckless second-degree murder.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Ricardo Leal represented the state at Friday’s sentencing, along with Senior Assistant DA Eve Kemple. Glover was represented by appointed defense attorney Michael Clarke.

The 10-year sentence was what was recommended by the parties in the plea agreement, and it represented a downward departure from the state’s sentencing guidelines. Under those guidelines, Glover would have faced a range of 138 to 154 months.

Donovan was not bound by the plea agreement’s recommendation, but she said she felt it was the most just to follow it based on a variety of factors, including sparing judicial resources on a trial, the fact it was a joint recommendation from the defense and the state and that Glover accepted responsibility.

While the judge was explaining her reasoning, Natasha Neal expressed frustration with the process from the gallery and walked out of the courtroom.

To the rest of Isaiah Neal’s loved ones who were still present, Donovan expressed condolences.

“I hope you can have peace … and (experience) no more violence and pain,” Donovan said.

photo by: Contributed

An undated photo of Natasha Neal and her son, Isaiah Neal