Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office / Robert Rodricus OrrA man has pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder in a January 2019 shooting, entering his pleas before Judge Don W. Poole on Monday in Hamilton County Criminal Court.
Robert Rodricus Orr, 31, was arrested and charged with the attempted murder of Jimmy Moore on Jan. 31, 2019. Orr was later charged with murder in connection with the death of Bernice Williams, who died on Feb. 1, 2019, from gunshot wounds sustained after Orr shot her as she slept on the couch at Moore’s residence.
Orr also pleaded guilty to using a firearm during a dangerous felony. A charge of possession of a firearm with a prior violent felony was dismissed.
Poole approved the plea agreement and sentenced Orr to 25 years in prison without the possibility of parole. Additionally, Orr is to serve time on the two lesser charges with the 25-year sentence.
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“The murder occurred on Jan. 29, 2019, at Jimmy Moore’s residence on West Main Street Court. Mr. Moore was home, and the victim, Bernice Williams, was asleep on the couch,” Assistant District Attorney General AnCharlene Davis said in a press statement. “Moore asked Orr to leave. Orr refused and instead locked the door. Orr then shot at Moore, hitting him once in the neck. Moore was able to crawl out of the room and get help, but before he left, he said he saw Orr fire several shots into Bernice Williams, who was still lying on the couch.”
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Williams, 32, was transported to a local hospital, where she died. She had four children.
Orr fled to Jasper, Tennessee, after the shooting and was apprehended by law enforcement officers at a motel in Hamilton County shortly after.
– Compiled by La Shawn Pagán