Man sentenced to life in prison for fatal Clinton Township party store shooting

Clinton Grayson maintains his innocence

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – A man learned Friday he will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted of murder and other charges in the death of a Clinton Township party store owner.

Clinton Grayson was found guilty in April of murder, armed robbery and other charges in connection with Basil Sulaka's death.

Grayson was sentenced Friday to life in prison without parole and 23 years to 50 years in prison for robbery charges.

When asked by the court if he had anything to say, Grayson said, "I'm sorry for their loss and I'm going to continue to maintain my innocence."

Sulaka's daughter broke down in court while talking about how her father battled cancer four years prior.

Meanwhile, stories of how the man helped his customers continue to pour out.

"He would lend them money," said Jonathan Kinaia, the victim's nephew. "He would give food to people that needed food. He was just so supportive for the community."

"The community is beautiful how they stuck together and helped us through this," said Vivian Sulaka, the victim's sister.

The 51-year-old Sulaka was killed March 28, 2014, when three masked gunmen stormed the Moon Lite Party store. According to a witness and security camera footage, the men entered the store around 11 p.m. and jumped the counter.  Two of the men emptied the cash registers and kept watch on the door while another shot Sulaka in the back with a handgun.

In addition to Grayson, three other men, Darius Diaz-Gaskin, Kenneth Hill and Jomar Davelle Robinson, are also charged in the crime. They're slated to go to trial in June.

Sulaka had owned the party store for 18 years. He was married with two daughters.

Full Screen
1 / 7