Oneida Shooting Suspect Indicted By Grand Jury

 

            Huntsville, TN (2012-01-11) An Oneida man accused of going on a shooting spree that killed one person has been indicted by a Scott County Grand Jury.

            Gregory Dean Potter, 54, of Oneida was indicted Tuesday by a Scott County Grand Jury.  Potter, who is accused of going on a shooting rampage in October 2011, was indicted on ten counts, including one count of first degree murder, seven counts of attempted first degree murder, aggravated assault and felony reckless endangerment.

            Potter is accused of going on a shooting spree on October 29, 2011, a rampage that resulted in the death of Christopher Wallace Marcum, 29, of Oneida and serious injuries to his lifelong friend, Ben Cooper.  He is also accused of shooting into a pickup truck occupied by three other persons, firing on law enforcement officers who attempted to take him into custody, and shooting into an occupied building that endangered the lives of 33 people inside.

            During a preliminary hearing on November 16, 2011, Investigator Blake Murphy of the Oneida Police Department testified that Potter allegedly told authorities following his capture, “I just snapped”. Potter is accused of firing the fatal shot that killed Marcum just inside the doorway of a chicken house on Bear Creek Road in Oneida.  Marcum was reportedly hosting a Halloween party at the old chicken house, which was next to his residence.

            Authorities claim Potter, who had filed several complaints about noise and partying at the chicken house, took the law into his own hands on October 29, 2011.  “He’s a mass murderer with a bad aim,” proclaimed Assistant Attorney General Tom Barclay.  Potter is accused of firing the fatal shot that killed Marcum at point blank range.  According to Barclay, the provisional autopsy report on Marcum indicated he suffered a “contact wound”, meaning the barrel of the weapon was so close to Marcum’s body that he suffered powder burns and “tattooing” from the muzzle flash.  Although authorities allege Potter fired his Winchester 30-30 rifle multiple times, he only struck Marcum and Cooper.

            Others indicted on Tuesday were:

            Kenneth Harold Adams, 75, of Helenwood was indicted on seven counts of the rape of a child, along with aggravated sexual battery.  The alleged abuse, which involved two female victims under the age of 13, occurred between January 2000 and December 2003.

            Luther Phillips, 65, was indicted on violation of the state’s sexual offender registration law (two counts).  Phillips, stated the indictment, allegedly failed to report, as required, to his state designated sexual offender registration officer. He was also accused of non-reporting of a change of his residence.  Phillips was convicted of statutory rape on November 17, 1993.

            Nena Privett, 37, was charged with aggravated assault.  Privett was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with a female victim on November 25, 2011.

            Clide Windell Henson, 37, was indicted on four counts, including three counts of the sale of Hydromorphone, a schedule II controlled substance, and the sale of a schedule IV controlled substance (Clonazepam).

            Joanthan Lee Silcox, 31, was charged with initiating the process to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Silcox’s indictment stemmed from his November 8, 2011 arrest.

            Andrea K. Sheets, 30, was indicted on charges of obtaining controlled substance by fraud and failure to appear.  Sheets is accused of obtaining Loratab, a drug containing Hydrocodone, a schedule III controlled substance, from a local drugstore on November 4, 2011.

            Carl Lee Strunk, 48, was indicted for driving under the influence, driving on revoked license (3rd offense), and violation of the implied consent law.  The alleged offense occurred on September 23, 2011; and,

            Bill Casey Minor, 29, was indicted on theft of more than $10,000.  Minor is accused of taken jewelry, guns, tools, and other personal property from a third party without consent.  The total value of the items taken was reportedly in access of $10,000.

            An indictment is a formal written document that is drawn up by a prosecutor accusing a designated person of having committed a felony or misdemeanor and which is presented to a Grand Jury so that it may take action upon it. The potential for persons with similar or the same name in the community exists. All persons are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.