Devin Moore (born Devin Darnell Thompson on May 15, 1985[2] in Fayette, Alabama) is a convicted murderer from Alabama who sparked a controversy over the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City when he committed three acts of first-degree murder in the Fayette, Alabama police station in 2003. Moore killed two policemen (Arnold Strickland and James Crump) and a dispatcher (Leslie Mealer) after being booked on suspicion of stealing a car. He then fled in a highway patrol vehicle.
Devin Moore | |
|---|---|
 Mugshot of Moore taken by the Alabama Department of Corrections | |
| Born | Devin Darnell Thompson[1] May 15, 1985 Fayette, Alabama, U.S. |
| Criminal status | On death row at Holman Correctional Facility |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
| Details | |
| Date | June 7, 2003 |
| Country | United States |
| Location(s) | Police station in Fayette, Alabama |
| Killed | 3 |
Date apprehended | June 7, 2003 |
Moore was apprehended later in Mississippi. According to the Associated Press, after his recapture he said, "Life is a video game. Everybody's got to die sometime." Once in custody, Moore quickly confessed. He told detectives that he shot the men because he didn't want to go to jail.[3]: 139
The controversy involving his relation to Grand Theft Auto was revealed during an episode of 60 Minutes on March 4, 2005. In the episode, a student demonstrated Grand Theft Auto to them[clarification needed], showing them the adult nature of the game.[4] Moore, who recently graduated from high school at the time, had no criminal record and was never in trouble before. He had enlisted in the Air Force and was due to leave for service at the end of the summer.
Legal proceedings
editMoore faced trial in 2005 and pleaded not guilty.[5] The trial judge barred the defense from introducing evidence to the jury that Grand Theft Auto incited Moore's shooting spree. Moore's attorney, Jim Standridge, contended that Moore was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder at the time of the crimes. Standridge argued that, as a child, Moore had been emotionally and physically abused by his father.[3]: 139
In August 2005, Moore was convicted as charged. On October 9, 2005, he was sentenced to death by lethal injection. Jim Standridge appealed the case. On February 17, 2012, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals upheld Moore's conviction in a 5–0 decision.[6] The case will automatically be appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court, and can then be appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Personal life
editMoore is the brother of Mookie Moore, a former National Football League player.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "CNN.com - Transcripts". Transcripts.cnn.com. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
- ^ "Alabama Department of Corrections". doc.state.al.us. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012.
- ^ a b Dwyer, Kevin and Fiorillo, Juré. True Stories of Law & Order: SVU. 2007: Berkley/Penguin, page 139. (ISBN 0425217353)
- ^ Leung, Rebecca (2005-03-04). "Can A Video Game Lead To Murder?". 60 Minutes. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
- ^ Smith, Tony (2005-08-11). "'Grand Theft Auto' cop killer found guilty". The Register. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
- ^ Beyerle, Dana (2012-02-17). "'Grand Theft Auto' killer's sentence upheld". The Gadsden Times. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2013-10-18.
- ^ Suspect described as "troubled child" with history of stealing