Career Criminal Convicted of “Pistol Whipping” Sentenced to Fifteen Years

DA Charme Allen announces that prosecutors in the Career Gang Unit obtained a fifteen-year sentence against a career criminal with thirty prior felony convictions who “pistol whipped” the victim.  Larry Lynn Ray, 50, was convicted of Aggravated Assault.  Judge Steve Sword sentenced Ray to fifteen years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction without the possibility of parole.

In a two-day trial in May, Assistant District Attorneys Jeannine Guzolek and Molly Martin explained to the jury that on September 24, 2023, Officers Charles Tallant and Brett Cox with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to an assault call in South Knoxville.  When officers met the victim, the victim described how he and another individual were parked in the driveway of a residence on Tipton Station Road when Ray opened the driver’s side door and put a gun to the back of the victim’s head.  Ray then “pistol whipped” the victim, striking him with the handle of the weapon.  The victim then drove away and called 911.  After Ray was arrested, he called family members and asked them to contact the victim to convince him not to testify. 

“I created the Career Gang Unit to aggressively prosecute cases involving defendants whose record of criminal activity is extensive and who have devoted their lives to criminal acts,” said DA Allen.

Ray has thirty prior felony convictions out of Knox, Union, and Sevier Counties and federal court for Especially Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Burglary, weapons, theft, and drug trafficking cases.  Assistant Victim Witness Coordinator Sheri Burkett aided in the prosecution of this case.