Judge Clears Felon's Self-Defense Claim, Then Sends Him to Prison Anyway
An Illinois judge found that a convicted felon acted in justified self-defense when he shot and killed a woman during a violent confrontation last July, yet the same ruling still sends him to prison for having the gun in the first place.
Snapshot
Judge John M. "Mo" Madonia acquitted 36-year-old Edward Massey of second-degree murder in the shooting death of ReKeea T. Jackson-Mason, concluding that Massey reasonably believed deadly force was necessary after a violent roadside altercation. But Massey, a felon barred from possessing firearms, was convicted of unlawful possession and now faces two to ten years in prison.
Key points
- Self-defense upheld: Madonia ruled that Massey's belief he needed to defend himself was reasonable and that firing one shot to end the threat was not excessive.
- Injuries weighed heavily: The judge cited Massey's wounds, including a gashed arm, a busted nose and a cut lip requiring stitches, as proof the encounter was not minor.
- Possession conviction stands: Despite the self-defense finding, Massey was convicted of possessing a firearm as a felon, a separate charge tied to the Kel-Tec .380 he later surrendered to police.
- Murky origin of the gun: Massey testified the weapon ended up in his hands after a struggle with his attacker, raising questions about whether the firearm was ever his.
- Sentencing ahead: Massey faces two to ten years, with the possibility of serving half under Illinois law, and will be sentenced in mid-January with credit for time served.
Quick take
Bearing Arms' Cam Edwards argues the case highlights a genuine tension in self-defense law: a court can agree someone's life was in danger and still convict them for the tool they used to survive. Edwards suggests Massey should pursue federal rights restoration once it's available, so he's never forced to choose between defending himself and returning to prison.
Read the full story: bearingarms.com