Aaron Lynell Harris was sentenced today for the December 15, 2009 murder of Tynesha Barksdale, as well as two firearms charges. Ms. Barksdale left behind two daughters, ages nine and twelve at the time. The facts of the case as offered to the court revealed that Harris had two guns in the home at the time of the killing. It was reported that he always had a firearm on him. When he ate dinner, he would take the firearm out and lay it on the table. The girls reported that they had never seen their mother with a gun. Although Barksdale and Harris had argued before, on that day, the arguing was worse. Barksdale decided to leave Harris, and began to pack. As she put things into containers, Harris kept taking them back out and putting them back into the closet. Barksdale took the girls out to get boxes, but the store had none, so they returned to the apartment that they shared with Harris. Barksdale and her daughters decided to wait until morning, and leave after Harris went to work. That night, Barksdale went to sleep in the girls’ bedroom. She was asleep when the two girls went into the bathroom. As they closed the bathroom door, they saw Harris enter their room. Moments later, they heard the sound of the gunshot. A crime scene analyst and expert in blood stain pattern analysis opined that Barksdale’s head was on the pillow when she was shot through the face. The bullet lodged in her brain, causing her death. A 911 operator received a call from Harris, reporting the shooting. He asked for an ambulance and said, “somebody just tried to rob us, and they shot through the window.” But then, he refused to give the apartment number, and eventually hung up on 911, saying he would call back. He never did. Evidence from the scene, including a firearm and ammunition was found in Harris’ car, after a neighbor reported seeing him taking items to the car before the police arrived. When interviewed by police, Harris was evasive, could not explain the evidence, and changed his story several times. At the end, he said, “if you get me a cigarette, I’ll tell you the truth.” At today’s sentencing hearing, the Honorable David F. Pugh, after considering the facts of the case, the harm which resulted, and Harris’ criminal history which dated back to 1989, sentenced Harris to 40 years for the murder, 5 years for the possession of a firearm by a felon – 2nd offense, and 3 years for the use of a firearm in the commission of a violent felony. None of the time was suspended – Harris will serve 48 years with the Department of Corrections. Robin L. Farkas and Laura B. Looney prosecuted the case. Harris is 41 years old. Upon his release sometime in or after the year 2050, he will be on parole for three years. ### |
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