Lengthy Prison Sentence After Split Verdict in 2016 Gun Case
BOSTON, June 22, 2021— A Dorchester man was sentenced to eight to 10 years in state prison yesterday after a Suffolk County jury last week found him guilty of firearm offenses but acquitted him of shooting a Boston Police officer, District Attorney Rachael Rollins said.
On June 14, 2021, GRANT HEADLEY, 32, of Dorchester was convicted of carrying a loaded firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm as a third offense, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number and two counts of possession of a large capacity firearm or feeding device. The same jury acquitted Mr. Headley of armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery by discharging a firearm, possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony as a second offense, distribution of a Class B substance as a second offense, possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute as a second offense.
During a sentencing hearing yesterday, Judge Peter Krupp sentenced Mr. Headley to a term of eight to 10 years in state prison, followed by three years of probation which can be terminated after two years if Mr. Headley is in full compliance with the terms of his probation. The DA’s Office, represented by Assistant District Attorney David McGowan, had requested a sentence of 14 to 16 years in state prison followed by 2.5 years in the house of correction.
“I’m deeply grateful to the officers who took Mr. Headley into custody on January 8, 2016. They displayed tremendous restraint, despite the risks and harm they faced. While my staff and I are disappointed that we were not able to hold this defendant accountable for the violent armed assault of a Boston Police officer, and a broad daylight shooting in a Suffolk County neighborhood, we respect the jury’s decision and are grateful for their work on this case,” District Attorney Rachael Rollins said. “Consistent with our ethical and legal obligations, we requested a sentence appropriate for the crimes for which Mr. Headley was found guilty. My office’s recommendation of a lengthy term is based on the nature of Mr. Headley’s offenses and his repeated refusal to comply with laws intended to protect everyone in our community. When an individual commits serious and violent felonies and inflicts harm, they will be removed from the community and held accountable. That is exactly what has happened here.”
ADA McGowan presented evidence and testimony at trial to prove that Mr. Headley was wanted by the Boston Police Department for drug distribution offenses on January 8, 2016. A team of officers was tasked with locating and arresting Mr. Headley and stopped his Acura on Mt. Bowdoin Terrace in Dorchester.
During the encounter, one of the officers, who did not have his firearm drawn, exited his cruiser to approach Mr. Headley’s vehicle. ADA McGowan had sought to prove at trial that Mr. Headley stepped out of his vehicle at the same time, armed with an unlicensed, fully-loaded .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic firearm with a high-capacity cartridge holding 13 rounds of ammunition. Prosecutors argued at trial that Mr. Headley fired on the officer until the gun jammed. The Officer was shot during the encounter. Unfortunately, the jury did not convict Mr. Headley of charges related to this assault.
Mr. Headley fled from the location, disposing of the jammed firearm as he ran. On Geneva Avenue, he encountered another officer involved in the effort to apprehend him. The officer yelled at Mr. Headley to stop and place his hands in the air. Mr. Headley raised one hand but held his waist band with his other hand, preventing the officer from seeing whether he held a weapon. Mr. Headley attempted to run past the officer but was instead tackled to the ground and taken into custody.
This encounter resulting in Mr. Headley’s arrest occurred in the vicinity of an early education center. Staff at the school rushed to get children who were playing outside back into the building, which was forced into lockdown as a result of the gunfire and police activity.
“Every day, members of law enforcement encounter dangerous and unpredictable situations, risking their lives for our safety. One of the officers who encountered Mr. Headley in 2016 has a bullet lodged in his leg to this day as evidence of those risks. I am deeply disappointed that we could not secure a verdict and accountability for that Officer. I have had the opportunity to personally meet with him and his wife and offered our on-going support as he continues to heal. Boston Police Officers present that day showed tremendous restraint as they apprehended Mr. Headley fleeing from the scene,” District Attorney Rollins said. “It is thanks to the efforts of those officers and of the Boston Police detectives and Suffolk prosecutors who have worked diligently on this case that Mr. Headley has been held accountable. I’m grateful to each of them and humbled to work with such extraordinary public servants.”
Tina Nguyen is the assigned victim witness advocate. Mr. Headley is represented by Jessica Tripp.
Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.