Va. Officer's Life Spared by Misfire of Suspects Gun

Aug. 3, 2012
A Petersburg man who forced a Hopewell police officer's gun to the officer's head after being cornered in a shed will spend 10 years behind bars for robbery, attempted murder and two firearm crimes.

HOPEWELL A Petersburg man who forced a Hopewell police officer's gun to the officer's head after being cornered in a shed will spend 10 years behind bars for robbery, attempted murder and two firearm crimes.

Officer James Barefoot's life was spared when the gun misfired as he and Wilton T. Turner III struggled for the weapon.

Citing Turner's "very, very dangerous criminal conduct" and substantial record, Judge W. Allan Sharrett of Hopewell Circuit Court sentenced Turner to 48 years in prison with 38 years suspended on convictions of robbery, attempted capital murder of a police officer, use of a firearm in a felony, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of marijuana.

State sentencing guidelines called for prison time ranging from six years and 10 months to 10 years and four months.

Hopewell Commonwealth's Attorney Rick Newman told the judge that Turner deserved life in prison but would settle for 50 years "to keep him away from society."

Newman noted that Turner, at just 24 years old, already had accumulated a significant criminal record, which included a November 2010 marijuana distribution conviction in Prince George County and November 2010 convictions in Petersburg for possession of controlled narcotics and possession of a firearm while in possession of drugs.

Turner received suspended sentences on those charges totaling 25 years, but with the Hopewell conviction, a judge ordered Turner to serve seven of the 10 years that had been suspended in Prince George. Some of Turner's suspended time in Petersburg also may be revoked.

Newman gave this account of the Nov. 18 incident:

Wanting to smoke, Turner asked a man for a light while standing outside the man's home in the 500 block of South 21st Avenue. The man replied that he didn't have a light, but told Turner he could get him one and then went into the house.

After the man went inside and began talking to his girlfriend, Turner knocked on the door and was allowed to enter. When the man tried to get Turner a light by turning on the stove, Turner pulled a gun and demanded cash.

Turner fled with some money and the victim immediately called police, triggering a manhunt. Barefoot was among the officers who responded, and as he searched the neighborhood, his eye was drawn to a homeowner's shed. After entering and spotting Turner hiding in a corner, the officer, with his gun drawn, told Turner he was under arrest and to come out.

Turner then charged toward Barefoot, causing both men to fall to the ground. As they grappled, Turner grabbed for Barefoot's gun and twisted it toward the officer's head.

Barefoot heard the gun click, but it didn't fire. "There was a mark on the shell of the casing where it had misfired," the prosecutor said.

Other officers soon came to Barefoot's aid, and Turner was apprehended. Inside the shed, police found a hidden pistol, which the homeowner said was not his.

Although the victim denied knowing Turner, a detective testified at Turner's trial in April that Turner reported the victim had sold him some "bad weed" and Turner went to the victim's home to "get things right," said defense attorney Peter Eliades. It was Turner's intention to buy an ounce of marijuana for $450, Turner told the detective.

Turner denied carrying a gun but told the detective that he "smacked (the victim) around a few times" during their encounter and took off with a large marijuana cigarette, Eliades said.

Eliades said Turner tried to run out of the shed when the officer discovered him. Turner claimed he had no intention of shooting the officer as they struggled for the weapon. The officer "couldn't specify whether it was his finger on the trigger, or my client's, or maybe even both" when the gun misfired, Eliades said.

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Copyright © 2012, The Richmond Times-Dispatch and may not be republished without permission. E-mail [email protected]

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