That officer, Cassidy Cantrell, came face to face with Bray in the courtroom Thursday. She asked a judge to give the teen the maximum sentence of 25 years in prison for his crimes.
“There was no reason for him to fire that weapon,” she said.
“He fired it at me to kill me. It wasn’t to escape, it wasn’t he was scared. He did it to kill me. I don’t know how to put it into words what that does to a person.”
That day on the job changed her life, Cantrell said.
“I truly believe that if you let him out, he will do it again,” she said.
Bray apologized to the officer and said he doesn’t remember what happened that night.
“I never meant for none of this to happen,” Bray said. “I blacked out.”
The teen admitted he had a drug problem and was on drugs the night of the crime.
“I’m sorry,” he said turning back to look at Cantrell.
Dozens of Springfield police officers filled the courtroom to support one of their own.
Bray’s friends and family also attended, making the courtroom standing-room only.
Prosecutors asked a judge to consider Bray’s extensive juvenile criminal record, which included felonious assault and drug charges, and his actions the night he committed the crime.
“This was a targeted shooting of a police officer,” said Brian Driscoll, assistant Clark County prosecutor assigned to the case.
“He fired multiple times trying to hit that officer — that’s not just a lack of respect for this officer, your honor, that is a lack of respect for society as a whole,” Driscoll said to the judge.
Bray’s family spoke and asked Judge Richard O’Neill to show leniency on the teen so he could get the help he needs.
“I know he must be punished but please don’t give my son the max,” mother Jeanne Bray said with tears in her eyes.
O’Neill sentenced Bray to prison for 14 years on the attempted murder charge and six years on the burglary charge, to be served consecutively for a total of 20 years.
“This behavior by anyone, an 18-year-old or a 40-year-old, cannot be tolerated,” Driscoll said.
Darious Hull, 16, also of Springfield, was sentenced last month to spend 11 years in prison for his part in the home burglary, according to court records. He has filed to appeal his case.
Bray’s lawyer said in court his client will also appeal his sentencing.
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