Attorney General Steve Marshall recently announced the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the capital murder conviction of a Gadsden man who shot into an occupied van, killing the driver in a phony drug buy with the intent to rob the victim.
Lonterry Orlando Harrison, 23, of Gadsden, was convicted of murder in the Etowah County Circuit Court in October 2022 for the shooting death of A. J. Huff. The court sentenced Harrison to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The death penalty was not considered since Harrison was 17 at the time of the murder.
According to Marshall's office, on Jan. 4, 2018, Huff was with a group of friends when he received a text message that someone wanted to buy marijuana from him. Huff and six of his friends drove to the Starnes Park Apartments to complete the sale. Initially, no one was there to meet them, but soon, a black Impala entered the parking lot and parked. After several minutes, Huff left the parking lot and was followed by the vehicle. When Huff's car stopped at an intersection, Harrison ran to the vehicle and shot him. Huff later died from gunshot wounds at a local hospital. At sentencing, Harrison admitted that he discharged a firearm into the van where the victim was seated as it was attempting to drive away and that this resulted in Huff's death.
Harrison appealed his life sentence to the court, flimsily claiming the court erred by refusing to dismiss two specific jurors. One juror admitted to the court that she taught at the school Harrison attended but did not have him in any class. The other juror admitted to briefly working at the detention center where Harrison was housed. The Etowah County Circuit Court denied Harrison's motions to remove the jurors at the time, citing insufficient cause. However, Harrison used two peremptory strikes to remove both jurors, which he claims "disadvantaged" him in the court proceedings.
The appeals court saw no merit in Harrison's objection and upheld his life sentence.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
