Judge Buddy Perry sentenced Rheubin Taylor II to four years - 12 months on house arrest and three years on probation - for the post-Strut shooting that killed 20-year-old Tory Hardy and wounded two others.
A Franklin County jury of seven women and five men deliberated more than four hours Friday before finding Mr. Taylor guilty of voluntary manslaughter and other charges.
The charges stemmed from the June 9, 2003, shooting death of 20-year-old Tory Hardy after the Riverbend Festival's Bessie Smith Strut. The jury found Mr. Taylor, 24, the son of Hamilton County Attorney Rheubin Taylor, guilty of: voluntary manslaughter; reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon (for shooting into a crowd); attempt to commit voluntary manslaughter; reckless aggravated assault (against Ronald Harris, who was injured in the incident).
The jury found the defendant not guilty of all charges with regard to alleged victim Victor Freeman, who evidence indicated may not have been shot.
Testimony during the trial indicated that Mr. Taylor and Timothy Beasley exchanged gunfire near the intersection of 10th and Foster streets one block south of M.L. King Boulevard.
Defense attorneys argued at trial that Mr. Taylor fired his father's .357-caliber Magnum in self-defense.
See tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
