Sunglasses Sale

John Hogan, WZZM

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. - A paroled felon who opened fire on a man who was selling him sunglasses outside a Fulton Heights grocery store was sentenced Thursday to at least eight years in prison by a judge who called the March incident “outrageous.’’

“There’s no justification or excuse, ’’ Kent County Circuit Court Judge Mark Trusock said. “It’s an outrageous set of circumstances. You’re lucky you didn’t kill somebody or an innocent bystander.’’

Bakari Devonte Dixon was one of three people who met outside the Family Fare on East Fulton Street near Fuller Avenue to consummate an online sale of sunglasses.

He pulled out a gun and opened fire; one of the participants returned fire.

No one was injured in the March 1 shooting which happened shortly before 6 p.m.

“The victim in this matter had been online and was supposed to be selling you some sunglasses, ’’ Trusock said. “You ended up robbing them. Guns were shot, people’s cars were hit. Luckily no one was hit.’’

Dixon was arrested the following day. He was on parole at the time for a home invasion that occurred when he was 17 years old.

“You’re 24 years old, you have two prior felonies, three prior misdemeanors, you’ve already had six different jail sentences, ’’ Trusock said.

Dixon was sentenced to between 6 and 20 years for larceny; that term will begin after he completes a mandatory two-year sentence for using a gun during a felony. A 3 to 10-year term for carrying a concealed weapon will run concurrent with the larceny sentence.

Dixon apologized to the victim and his family “for putting them through this.’’