Man found guilty of murder

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 5, 2016

LaGRANGE — A Troup County Superior Court jury found a West Point man guilty of shooting and killing his friend in the parking lot of a liquor store.

Latrell Deshonta Harper, 24, of Lanett, Alabama, was charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a first offender probationer, stated Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney Pete Skandalakis in a news release.

Harper was accused of shooting Willis Bulger, 29, of West Point, during an argument in the parking lot of the West Point Spirits store on June 28, 2014.

Bulger died from his wounds later that night at East Alabama Medical Center, stated Chief Assistant District Attorney Monique Kirby.

The defendant was also on probation for a 2010 aggravated assault conviction, Kirby stated. In that case, Harper was convicted of shooting at another person in West Point but did not hit them, according to Kirby.

Presiding Superior Court Judge Dennis Blackmon decided not to sentence Harper after the verdict, stated Skandalakis.

Harper will face Blackmon back in court for sentencing Oct. 24.

Defendant will be sentenced Oct. 24

By Melanie Ruberti

mruberti@civitasmedia.com

Melanie Ruberti is a reporter with LaGrange Daily News. She can be reached at 706-884-7311, ext. 2156.