Knoxville man found guilty in the fatal shooting of two brothers during marijuana theft
A Knox County jury has found a 36-year-old man guilty in the shooting deaths of two brothers in 2019.
James Edward Allen was convicted Aug. 14 of multiple counts in the attack that killed Christian Haley, 20, and his younger brother, 19-year-old Joshua Haley. Both were found dead of gunshot wounds as police responded to the shooting at a North Knoxville apartment on Dec. 29, 2019.
Allen was found guilty of multiple counts of felony murder and first-degree murder, as well as especially aggravated robbery, employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, tampering with evidence, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated burglary, and attempted aggravated burglary.
Judge Steven Sword imposed a life sentence on the first-degree murder counts, meaning Allen must serve 51 years in prison before he is eligible for parole, Deputy District Attorney General Sean McDermott said. A sentencing hearing was set for Sept. 21.
Two of three co-defendants have taken plea agreements
Allen and codefendant Anthony Lua, who was 17 at the time, were spotted running along the Interstate 640 East off-ramp to Old Broadway, and were chased down by Knoxville police officers.
Lua, who is now 20, was prosecuted as an adult and has pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and one count of especially aggravated robbery in return for a total of 25 years in prison.
Two others were charged in connection with the homicides, which police said stemmed from a robbery over marijuana.
A 20-year-old is being prosecuted as an adult. His trial is set for Jan. 29, court records show.
A 21-year-old pleaded to two counts of facilitating first-degree murder in return for a 15-year sentence, concurrent to a sentence he is already serving in an unrelated case. He is set to be sentenced Aug. 24.
Liz Kellar is a public safety reporter. Email lkellar@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville man found guilty of killing two brothers during pot theft
