BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS, Mo. (KMOX) - A St. Louis County man was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for trying to shoot his ex-girlfriend, but instead hitting her father and paralyzing him.
Chicory Griffin, 32, was sentenced on Wednesday on 10 felony counts of first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. He twice tried to shoot his ex.
On Feb. 29, 2020, Griffin was in a car and tried to shoot her. Then on March 17, 2020 he shot at her again, but this time she was in a vehicle with her father and Griffin shot him. He was left paralyzed.
He was arrested by St. Louis County Police two days later after a high-speed chase.
It was a very emotional sentencing hearing, with passionate pleas from both sides. The ex-girlfriend's father testified that Griffin's shooting left him unable to play with his grandchildren or use the restroom unassisted and without sexual function.
"You took everything from me," he said. "And all over what? Nothing."
The ex-girlfriend said she had blamed herself for what happened to her father, but after sentencing she could start over.
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"Today I get my life back. I am no longer that scared little girl," she said. "You tried to play God, but now today is your judgement day."
Griffin declined to address the court or victims. His mother testified that her son, who has spent the majority of his adult life behind bars, suffered from untreated mental illness and a broken criminal justice system. His defense counsel read letters submitted by Griffin's girlfriend and her son, who has embraced Griffin as his father.
After the court adjourned the hearing and dismissed the victims, Griffin yelled at them, "This ain't over!"
"If it were up to the defendant, two people would be dead today. The court rightly sentenced these terrible crimes as nearly successful attempts at cold-blooded murder," said St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell. "While no punishment to this dangerous and remorseless man will return what he has taken away, we take solace knowing that at least one of the victims sees this as her opportunity to start her life anew."
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