Gunman Sentenced to Thirty-Six Years for Two Counts of Attempted Murder

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained a thirty-six-year sentence against a man who shot at two victims, one of whom was two years old. Richard Gregory Williams, III, 22, was convicted in April of two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder and two counts of Employing a Firearm during the Commission of a Dangerous Felony. Judge Steve Sword sentenced Williams today to serve thirty-six years in prison.

In a two-day trial, Assistant District Attorneys TaKisha Fitzgerald and Phil Morton explained to the jury that on April 2, 2016, Williams sent text messages to the victim, Larry North, and lured him out of his apartment to meet him in a parking lot at 1100 Lula Powell Drive. When North exited his apartment with his two-year-old nephew, Williams approached the victims and fired several shots at them, striking Larry North seven times. The toddler was not struck during the shooting.

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.