Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Altadena Voluntary Manslaughter Case

A Westlake Village man was senteced to 21 years in prison Thursday in a fatal shooting case where the victim was an art professor from Altadena.

Steven Honma, 55, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter after he shot victim Norman Schureman during a party in Westlake Village in March of 2010. 

Honma was acquitted of murder charges after his defense contended he had not intended to fire the gun when he shot Schureman. However, the 21-year-sentence he received was the maximum possible number of years he could have gotten for voluntary manslaughter.

Schureman, 50, had taught at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design for most of his professional life, following in the footsteps of his father, who was also a long-time teacher at the school. Following the shooting, hundreds of students, faculty and family members gathered at the school to remember him.

Honma and Schureman had been attending the same Persian New Year's Eve party in the 31000 block of Kentfield Court in Westlake Village.

Prosecutors allege that Honma was asked to leave the party. He returned to his home, they say, and then came back to the party armed with two guns and a knife.  After a fight, Honma discharged the weapon, killing Schureman.