California jury convicts man in fatal shooting of deputy

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — A Sacramento County, California, jury Tuesday convicted a man of murder for the 2018 shooting death of a deputy. Anton Lemon Paris, 44, now faces life in prison with no chance of parole.

It took a jury almost four days to find Paris guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jurors also found that Paris killed a peace officer and used a gun to cause the death. Additionally, they found that he tried to kill another peace officer, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said.

Prosecutors had accused Paris of fatally shooting Deputy Mark Stasyuk and of shooting Deputy Julie Robertson at a Pep Boys in Rancho Cordova, about 15 miles east of Sacramento.

“We stand with Deputy Mark Stasyuk’s family and Deputy Julie Robertson and her family,” District Attorney Thien Ho said in a statement. “With today’s verdict, we are one step closer to justice.”

Paris’ attorney could not be reached for comment.

According to the district attorney’s office, Paris was at the Pep Boys with his ex-girlfriend on Sept. 17, 2018, when he grew agitated. He started pacing aggressively through the store and making threats.

Employees saw Paris knock items off shelves and heard him say he’d kill everyone in the establishment. One employee called authorities, leading Stasyuk and Robertson to arrive.

Video surveillance shows the deputies did not have their guns out when they entered the store. Neither did they have their hands on their weapons.

Stasyuk entered the store first, asking Paris if they could talk. Instead, Paris ran toward the opened front doors, with Stasyuk following. However, before Stasyuk reached the doors, Paris pulled a semi-automatic gun and starting shooting.

An employee was hit in the back. Paris turned toward Stasyuk, who still didn’t have his weapon out, and fired. The deputy was hit in the torso, and he stumbled through the doors and into the parking lot. Paris then approached Stasyuk, firing again and hitting him in the head.

Paris started firing at Robertson, who returned fire and tried to radio for assistance. He then fled the store, jogging down Folsom Boulevard, a main road in the area that extends for several miles.

Other deputies arrived in the area and found Paris, told him they were law enforcement and ordered him to show his hands. Paris instead ran toward the deputies, firing his weapon. The deputies fired back and hit Paris. They they arrested him and took him to the hospital.

Doctors pronounced Stasyuk deceased at the hospital. An autopsy showed he had a gunshot wound to the torso that was survivable. The wound to the head was fatal. Robertson and the store employee survived.

Paris was booked into the Sacramento County Jail on Sept. 25, 2018, where he was ineligible for bail, sheriff’s records showed.

A preliminary hearing was held for Paris in August 2019. A judge found enough evidence existed to continue the case at trial, which began in late June.

Jurors began deliberating the case on July 17, returning with a verdict on Tuesday.

Sentencing is set for Aug. 19.

Paris faces a heightened sentence because a peace officer was killed. The death penalty and life in prison with no chance of parole are potential sentences for him. However, there’s been a moratorium on the death penalty in California since 2019.

In a statement, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Rancho Cordova Police Department expressed gratitude for Paris’ conviction. They praised Stasyuk’s dedication, saying that the conviction brings some justice and solace to loved ones.

“His dedication, bravery, and service will never be forgotten, and today’s verdict ensures that the perpetrator is held accountable for this senseless act,” the law enforcement agencies said. “Deputy Stasyuk’s legacy will continue to inspire us as we honor his sacrifice by upholding the law and protecting our community with the same bravery and dedication he exemplified.”