Upper Marlboro, Md. – Eighteen-year-old honor student Marckel Ross was headed to school early two years ago, books in hand, when he was shot and killed during a robbery attempt.

At first, police had no suspect and no motive. But after what judge Nicholas E. Rattal called A-plus police work, Travon Bennett was charged and convicted for Ross’ murder.

On Friday, Bennett was sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison for the Sept. 11, 2012, killing.

In an orange jump suit, Bennett addressed the court and apologized to Ross’ family. He also denied killing him.

Bennett’s mother delivered a tearful statement to the judge calling her son noble and decent and saying she can’t believe her son is responsible for the crime.

The judge called the murder a “callous act.”

“Justice was definitely served,” said Elizabeth Ross, Marckel Ross’ mother. But, the sentence “doesn’t bring Marckel back. I wish I could have Marckel back more than anything in this world.”

Assistant Prince George’s County State’s Attorney, Wes Adams, says, “We’ve taken him off the streets, he won’t be able to victimize anyone else in our community.”

Adams says their case proved that Travon Bennett killed Ross and they are pleased with the sentence.

Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on the WTOP Facebook page.