Larry Dale Potts

Overview

Larry Dale Potts was sentenced to death on October 6, 1988.

Other details

While separated, Sharon moved in with Potts. After Potts beat her and broke her jaw, Sharon moved back in with Jerry.

One night, Potts came to the Lounge and got into an argument with Sharon. Potts attempted to pick a fight with Jerry, who declined. Potts drew a gun and shot him 3 times. As Sharon came towards him, Potts shot her in the heart and killed her.

One patron of the bar, John Smith, was shot in the leg. Another patron, Robert Pavey, was shot dead. Potts returned to Smith and despite his pleas shot him twice more. Potts shot another patron in the shoulder. Potts ran out of ammunition while he was shooting, inserted a fresh clip, and continued to shoot.

In all, Potts shot 14 times, each shot striking someone. He then walked behind the bar, called the police, and waited for their arrival. When police asked him why he had shot these people, Potts asserted that they were all trying to jump him and were picking on him.

Sentencing

Potts was convicted of Murder, Murder, and Attempted Murder (A Felony) (3 counts).

On October 6, 1988, he was sentenced to death and also received 30 years, 30 years, and 30 years consecutive.

Aggravating Circumstances included “b (8) 2 murders.”

Mitigating Circumstances included no prior criminal record, kind, generous non-violent father, that he was on pain medication and alcohol on day of murders, that he turned himself in, constant and severe back pain, and that he was addicted to prescription narcotics; alcoholic. The record also stated he was divorced a year before murders, mental disease of depression, sudden heat, and that he was 40 years old at the time of the murders.

An agreed disposition was entered, and he was resentenced by Special Judge James L. Clement on 04-08-96 to 210 years imprisonment.