Security guard heads to jail for shooting 2 people www.privateofficer.com
Posted by privateofficernews on August 15, 2009
Knoxville TN Aug 15 2009
A security guard who gunned down two people in front of a West Knoxville jewelry store is likely to go to jail Monday as part of a plea agreement worked out with prosecutors, an attorney said today.
Jessie Monroe Walker, 63, will plead guilty to two counts of aggravated assault Monday in Knox County Criminal Court, according to T. Scott Jones, who represents one of the two victims who fell to bullets fired by Walker on Feb. 28.
Jones said Friday he anticipates that Walker will receive a sentence in the range of 10 to 12 years, with part of that time spent behind bars and the rest on intensive probation. Also, as a convicted felon, he will no longer be allowed to possess firearms.
Walker shot Kevin Bowman, 22, and Elizabeth Day, 18, in front of Markman’s Fine Diamonds and Jewelry on Kingston Pike. He was working for Vinson Guard Service and was on duty at the store when the shooting happened.
Bowman was hit in the forehead and Day was struck in the chest. Both survived, but Bowman was paralyzed, Jones said.
Jones, who represents Bowman, has filed a $70 million lawsuit on behalf of his client against Walker, the guard service and the store.
Jones has alleged that Walker pulled his gun “without provocation” and shot the couple, neither of whom was armed.
“We are relieved that he is taking criminal responsibility for his actions,” Jones said today. “We believe that Markman’s and Vinson should also take responsibility for their rogue guard.”
Attorneys for the guard service couldn’t immediately be reached for comment, but court documents filed before Walker agreed to plead guilty state that Walker approached the couple out of concern over a “sudden emergency” as Bowman and Day argued in the parking lot. The guard service hasn’t described that emergency or explained why it justified Walker drawing his gun.
The store has denied responsibility for anything Walker did, saying he works solely for the guard service.
At least one witness has said the couple were arguing loudly and that he saw Bowman and Day advancing on a retreating guard. Bowman’s lawyer says the argument never turned physical, that it ended before Walker got involved and that Walker grabbed Day in a choke-hold as Bowman and a friend watched.
A security guard who gunned down two people in front of a West Knoxville jewelry store is likely to go to jail Monday as part of a plea agreement worked out with prosecutors, an attorney said today.
Jessie Monroe Walker, 63, will plead guilty to two counts of aggravated assault Monday in Knox County Criminal Court, according to T. Scott Jones, who represents one of the two victims who fell to bullets fired by Walker on Feb. 28.
Jones said Friday he anticipates that Walker will receive a sentence in the range of 10 to 12 years, with part of that time spent behind bars and the rest on intensive probation. Also, as a convicted felon, he will no longer be allowed to possess firearms.
Walker shot Kevin Bowman, 22, and Elizabeth Day, 18, in front of Markman’s Fine Diamonds and Jewelry on Kingston Pike. He was working for Vinson Guard Service and was on duty at the store when the shooting happened.
Bowman was hit in the forehead and Day was struck in the chest. Both survived, but Bowman was paralyzed, Jones said.
Jones, who represents Bowman, has filed a $70 million lawsuit on behalf of his client against Walker, the guard service and the store.
Jones has alleged that Walker pulled his gun “without provocation” and shot the couple, neither of whom was armed.
“We are relieved that he is taking criminal responsibility for his actions,” Jones said today. “We believe that Markman’s and Vinson should also take responsibility for their rogue guard.”
Attorneys for the guard service couldn’t immediately be reached for comment, but court documents filed before Walker agreed to plead guilty state that Walker approached the couple out of concern over a “sudden emergency” as Bowman and Day argued in the parking lot. The guard service hasn’t described that emergency or explained why it justified Walker drawing his gun.
The store has denied responsibility for anything Walker did, saying he works solely for the guard service.
At least one witness has said the couple were arguing loudly and that he saw Bowman and Day advancing on a retreating guard. Bowman’s lawyer says the argument never turned physical, that it ended before Walker got involved and that Walker grabbed Day in a choke-hold as Bowman and a friend watched.
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