Ivryee Flowers, 21, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder in the death of his 8-month-old daughter.

“This is a devastating case of a young, defenseless child killed by her own father,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.

On December 7, 2011, the defendant’s 8-month-old daughter spent the day with her grandmother. At 7:45 p.m., the grandmother returned the child to the defendant at his residence. The defendant placed the child in the bassinette so he could play video games.

While the defendant was playing video games, the child cried. The defendant attempted to calm the child, but when the cries continued, the defendant assaulted his daughter primarily by aggressively shaking her. The defendant heard his daughter gasp for breath, and then called his uncle for help who advised him to call the authorities.

Tacoma Fire Department arrived at the defendant’s residence and transported the baby girl to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Medical examinations revealed that the child suffered from massive acute subdural bleeds in multiple sections of the brain and bi-lateral retinal hemorrhages caused by violent shaking.

On December 8, 2011, the defendant’s 8-month-old daughter was declared brain dead. Life support was removed the following day.