Man Who Shot Bradley Deputy Found Not Guilty
9.21.2007

A man who shot a Bradley County Sheriff's sergeant last Oct. 28 was ruled not guilty by reason of insanity after several hours of deliberation by a Bradley County Criminal Court jury late Thursday night. Larry Q. Hamby had been charged with shooting Sgt. Bill Coultry at Taylor's Market on APD 40. Chattanooga attorneys Lee Davis and Bryan Hoss contended Hamby was delusional and believed law enforcement officers were pursuing him. The defense called five mental health experts to bolster their case. Dr. Sam Craddock of Middle Tennessee Health said he "would bet his job of 22 years that Hamby was not faking and that his mental illness was real and extremely serious." Dr. Kim Brown of Vanderbilt told the jury that this was the first time in her career that she has supported a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Hamby will be sent to Middle Tennessee Health Institute for treatment. Sgt. Coultry said he exited his car in the morning incident and saw a man approaching him with his hands in his coat pockets. He said he then heard three shots fired. There were actually five shots fired, and the officer was hit three times, according to testimony. The prosecution contended that Hamby knew enough to flee the scene and should have been convicted as charged. The jury of six men and six women heard testimony over two days. Attorney Davis said, "The defense witnesses testified consistently to the following: Mr. Hamby suffered from a serious mental defect that prevented him from appreciating the wrongfulness of his actions. State and private doctors agreed that Mr. Hamby suffered from serious delusions of persecution that started some years before the event and culminated in this tragic shooting. Hamby did not know the officer, had no drugs or alcohol in his system and and has never been in any kind of trouble before. Hamby believed that the police were monitoring his home and behavior. He had delusions that he was being followed and was in serious danger." Attorney Davis praised the jury, saying, "It is hard in the midst of tragedy to listen to proof of serious mental illness." Attorney Hoss said, "We are happy that Mr. Hamby will get the treatment in a mental health facility that he desperately needs." Juanita Hamby, the defendant's mother, said she "thanked the jury for their verdict and that her prayers were for Sgt. Coultry's continued recovery." He recently returned to work at the Bradley County Sheriff's Department.

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