Felon Receives a Total of 100 Years after Shooting at Officer

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Major Crimes Unit obtained multiple convictions against a convicted felon who shot Knoxville Police Department Officer James Wilson in his ballistics vest. Matthew Lee Pryor, 31, was convicted of Attempted First Degree Murder and Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Pryor received a fifty-year sentence that must be served consecutive to another fifty-year sentence imposed for shooting at federal agents in Florida.

In a plea hearing before Judge Scott Green, Assistant District Attorney Kevin Allen explained to the Court that on May 20, 2015, Knoxville Police Department Officer James””Jimmy”” Wilson was on routine patrol when he stopped at the Value Inn at 3207 East Magnolia to run license plates looking for stolen vehicles. One of the vehicles came back to a vehicle that was carjacked in Dade County, Florida. During the commission of the carjacking, Pryor shot at federal agents. Knowing the danger posed by the suspect, Ofc. Wilson and two other officers approached Room 316 to take Pryor into custody. When Ofc. Wilson knocked on the door, Pryor opened the door and fired one round from a .380 semi-automatic pistol into Ofc. Wilson’s chest. The force of the shot knocked Ofc. Wilson to his feet, but he quickly recovered and took control of the scene, ensuring the safety of both motel guests and responding officers. After a brief standoff, Pryor surrendered and was taken into custody.

“”But for the vest that Ofc. Wilson had on, this would be a very different press conference here today, and we are very thankful that it is an attempted first degree murder charge,”” said DA Charme Allen.””The Knoxville Police Department does a wonderful job protecting this community, and we are thankful that they are doing that job for us each and every day.””

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.