SUSPECT CONVICTED, SENTENCED TO LIFE IN SHOOTING OF FAYETTE CO. SHERIFF’S DEPUTY

  

The man charged in the shooting and blinding of a Fayette County Sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to life in prison.

On Tuesday, an Austin County jury found 53-year-old Shazizz Mateen guilty for the offense of Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant.  The jury stayed late Tuesday evening to deliberate on punishment before returning with the decision of life in prison and a $10,000 fine, the maximum sentence.

The trial stems from an incident on November 1, 2018 where Deputy Calvin “C.J.” Lehmann was seriously wounded and lost his eyesight while attempting to serve a warrant on Mateen for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

Mateen was accused of attacking a La Grange police officer attempting to arrest him.  He fled to the Carter Motel and barricaded himself inside one of the rooms.  Lehmann volunteered to approach the door, as other officers on scene did not have body armor at the time.  As they breached the door, Mateen fired a shotgun, striking Lehmann in the face.  Mateen was taken into custody after a four-hour standoff.

The trial began on Monday and was moved to Austin County to ensure fairness.

In a statement, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said, “While this verdict can in no way heal the wounds of Deputy Lehmann or restore to him his sight and the life he was able to live previously, it is our sincerest hope that the closure of this case brings some sense of solace, relief, and peace to Deputy Lehmann and his family, our family.”