One year after the Memorial Day murder of deputy Daniel Sherrer, his killer received a life sentence in prison.
A Morrow County judge approved a joint plea agreement that allows Brian Wilson to avoid the death penalty. While explaining the decision, the judge noted that defendants sentenced to death typically spend around 23 years on death row before execution, making the plea agreement appropriate in this case.
Wilson received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for aggravated murder. In addition, the court imposed an extra aggregate sentence of 27 to 32 years for multiple other charges included in the indictment.
Wilson, who fatally shot Sherrer on May 26, 2025, will spend the rest of his life behind bars after pleading guilty earlier this month to 14 felony charges. The charges include aggravated murder, premeditated aggravated murder, felony murder, three counts of felonious assault, attempted murder, attempted aggravated murder, domestic violence, two counts of unlawful discharge of a weapon, two counts of firearm possession, and discharging a firearm while intoxicated. Eleven of those charges also carry a three-year firearm specification.
Although Morrow County prosecutors planned to pursue the death penalty against Wilson, both sides reached a plea agreement in principle three weeks ago. Under the agreement, Wilson pleaded guilty to all charges, including aggravated murder, and accepted a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The deal also prevents Wilson from appealing either his convictions or sentence.
For complete details of the plea agreement in principle, see the document below.
Wilson shot and killed 31-year-old Sherrer after the deputy responded to a domestic violence call on County Road 26, just south of Marengo. Wilson, who was reportedly in a dispute with his brother-in-law, told Sherrer, “You better just f______ go if you want your family to see you tomorrow.”
Sherrer was shot multiple times and the sheriff’s office reported that several gunshots were heard with two firearms recovered at the scene, including a semiautomatic pistol and a revolver.
Court testimony about the incident revealed that Wilson allegedly tried twice to shoot and kill his brother-in-law, which led to the initial call to the sheriff’s office. Prosecutors also told the court that Wilson, who suffered injuries during the exchange of gunfire, was intoxicated at the time.
Wilson remained in the Delaware County Jail throughout the court proceedings on a $9 million bond. Court records show he will receive 365 days of jail-time credit toward his additional sentences.
Several community members, including relatives and fellow Morrow County deputies, filled the courtroom Tuesday. Many delivered victim impact statements while Wilson sat beside his attorneys, facing those who spoke in Sherrer’s memory.
Alexandria Lyon, Sherrer’s fiancée, became emotional as she addressed the court, bringing Wilson to tears. Throughout much of the hearing, Wilson kept his head down, only occasionally looking up at those reading statements.
“He took away my person, my partner,” Lyon said. “He took away our future that we were working really hard for, our chance to build a home we wanted to raise our future kids in, our chance to have rainbow baby and for Weston to be an amazing father as I know he would’ve been.”
Wilson also addressed the court before receiving his sentence.
“No words can change or fix what happened that day, and for that I’m sorry,” he said. “The only thing I can do is try to help heal the hurt that I caused. If I could trade my life for deputy Sherrer, I would. But I can’t.”
In a statement, prosecutors said the sentencing closes “one of the most painful chapters in the history of Morrow County.”
“It is no accident that justice was served today, May 26, in a Morrow County courtroom on what marks the first anniversary of our son’s senseless death,” the family said in a statement. “We hope this date will not only be the anniversary of our son’s death, but also a reminder of justice served.”
Two days after the shooting, Sherrer was honored with a 120-mile procession. Gov. Mike DeWine also ordered flags to fly at half-staff, and Sherrer was laid to rest during a private ceremony at Marion Cemetery on June 4.
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