A Gary woman was sentenced to 45 years Monday in a plea deal for killing her daughter’s father during a custody handoff.
Shasta Young, 40, pleaded guilty — but mentally ill — to murder in December. The agreement called for a 45-year term. Indiana law requires inmates to serve 75% of their term with good behavior.
The victim, Willie Perry, 59, of Gary, was shot once in the chest. He was pronounced dead at 12:10 p.m. on June 14, 2024 in his apartment. His death was ruled a homicide.
Police responded at 11:20 a.m. to the 5700 block of Cypress Avenue in Gary.
Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force Detective David Moran wrote Young sat on the sofa while her 18-month-old daughter watched TV. She nodded to the door — where Perry lay outside — when he asked who the toddler’s father was.
“I was just defending myself, so it’s not a problem,” she told police later in an interview at the Gary Police Station.
Young was getting ready and Perry walked inside, holding the girl and a “camera.” He shoved it in her face and they “started tussling,” she said.
Young “stole a life,” the victim’s father Major Lee Perry said Monday in court. His son was a devoted father.
Defense lawyer Ben Murphy said she had no history of violence and would go to prison for a “substantial period of time.”
Deputy Prosecutor Tara Villarreal said they had a “very strong case,” since the victim “recorded his own killing.” Texts showed they could prove it was intentional, she said.
During the hearing, Young loudly retorted as Perry’s niece left the witness stand. That was a sign of her “temper,” Villarreal said.
“I just made a mistake,” Young said in court, of the slaying. “It just happened.”
She apologized to Perry’s family and said her family was watching the girl, who would seek out her father’s family one day.
After the hearing, Perry’s sister said he was a “good man.” Her family had no contact with the child and didn’t know where she was.
The shooting happened “rather quickly” and it was “pretty horrific” that Perry recorded his own death, Judge Salvador Vasquez said, adding Young would pay the price, going to prison for maybe the rest of her life.
“I’ll be out before I’m 60,” Young said as she was led away.
Post-Tribune archives contributed.
