Marissa Alexander, the mother of three, who was sentenced to an outrageous 20 years in prison for simply firing a warning shot to protect herself from her abusive husband was finally released from jail this Tuesday.
Alexander, 34 years old, pled guilty to three counts of aggravated assault for shooting in the direction of husband, Rico Gray and his two sons; no one was hurt. She was sentenced to the 1,095 days she has already severed and two years of house arrest. In Jacksonville, Florida, Alexander originally claimed self-defense. She gained wide media attention as an example of the unfairness of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground Law” after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin in 2013. Her case helped to inspire a new state law permitting warning shots in some situations.
Outside of the courthouse, Alexander read a statement, in part she said:
“I look forward to the full-time challenge of getting my two teenagers through high school and into college, as well we preparing my 4-year-old daughter for nursery school. My goal is to continue my education beyond my master’s degree and to continue my professional career. Also, I will continue to learn lessons from the events of the past, but I will not live in the past.”
Alexander with her father, Raoul Jenkins by her side, supporters all around, knows that life is short and she has much to accomplish.
Photo Credit: Twitter