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Minn. man gets life for killing father, son in La Crosse

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LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) -- A Minnesota man has been sentenced to life in prison without release for the shooting deaths of a western Wisconsin photography store owner and his teenage son.

The La Crosse Tribune reports Jeffrey Lepsch, of Dakota, Minn., did not make a statement during the sentencing in La Crosse County Tuesday.

The 40-year-old was found guilty in July of killing 56-year-old Paul Petras and his 19-year-old son A.J. in May's Photo in La Crosse on Sept. 15, 2012. He was also convicted of robbing them of $17,000 worth of equipment.

Family and attorneys kept statements short during the 45-minute hearing.

Sherri Petras, Paul Petras' wife and A.J.'s mother, said she felt bad for his kids but it was his decision. She said he shouldn't have taken her family.