A Sacramento jury has convicted Ali Mustafa Hudson of second-degree murder for killing his 66-year-old mother, Ramona Hayes, inside her senior living facility apartment, bringing to a close a case that began with a tense standoff in January 2021. Jurors also found Hudson guilty on two counts of attempted murder and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors say he now faces a maximum sentence of 123 years to life, with sentencing set for May 8, 2026.
According to a press release from the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, the jury reached its verdict after hearing evidence that Hudson barricaded his mother inside her apartment at the senior facility, then opened fire on deputies who responded to the scene. Prosecutors say Hudson shot his mother four times, then kept shooting at law enforcement until he ran out of ammunition. Deputies returned fire and hit Hudson, but he suffered only minor wounds because he was wearing body armor, according to the DA.
As reported by ABC10, Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies had already been called to the senior complex twice on Jan. 19, 2021, on domestic-violence complaints and a dispute involving a restraining order, before the second response escalated into gunfire. ABC10 also noted that Hudson had a prior felony conviction, which legally barred him from possessing any firearms at the time of the shooting.
How Prosecutors Say The Standoff Unfolded
According to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, deputies first responded to an earlier domestic-violence call at the senior facility, then were dispatched again later that day. On the second visit, prosecutors say Hudson was visibly angry and ordered deputies to leave the apartment.
Once deputies backed off, Hudson barricaded his mother inside, then shot her multiple times, according to the DA’s account. When deputies tried to intervene, Hudson opened fire on them as well. Deputies shot back and eventually moved in after Hudson emptied his weapon and ran out of ammunition, at which point he was taken into custody at the scene.
The DA’s release also points to an allegation that Hudson has a prior “strike” conviction for attempted robbery with a firearm. That allegation was not decided by the jury and is set to be addressed separately at sentencing.
Legal Implications And Next Steps
Hudson’s convictions include second-degree murder in the killing of Hayes, two counts of attempted murder for shooting at deputies, and a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office states that sentencing is scheduled for May 8, 2026, before the Honorable Tami Bogert. Prosecutors say he faces a maximum sentence of 123 years to life in prison. Principal Criminal Attorney Danny Jensen is listed as the prosecutor on the case, which is filed under Sacramento Superior Court case number 21FE001219.
At the May hearing, the court will determine Hudson’s final sentence and decide whether the alleged prior strike conviction will increase his punishment. The DA’s office published its announcement of the verdict on April 24, and the case is now set to return to Sacramento Superior Court for the sentencing phase.
