Man acquitted of shooting Boston cop in Dorchester in 2016

A Suffolk Superior Court jury last week acquitted a Dorchester man of shooting a Boston police officer in the leg, but convicted him on gun charges related to the same incident, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Suffolk Superior Court Judge Peter Krupp today sentenced Grant Headley, 32, to eight to ten years in state prison, following his conviction on charges 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 DA's office reports. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 14 to 16 years in state prison, followed by 2 1/2 years in a county jail for Headley, whom police say has a record that dates to his teens.

However, the jury acquitted him 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, the DA's office said.

At the time of his arrest, Boston Police and the DA's office charged that Headley, spotted while selling cocaine, found himself on Mt. Bowdoin Terrace, stopped by police. But rather than surrender, police said then, Headley opened fire on an officer who pursed him, shooting at him repeatedly and hitting him in the leg. The jury, however, did not buy the story.