Hamilton County District Attorney's Office / Barry Christopher MaplesA man who initially was found not competent to stand trial in two fatal 2020 shootings in Chattanooga was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years in prison.
Barry Christopher Maples, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder before Judge Don W. Poole, according to a news release from District Attorney General Neal Pinkston's office.
(READ MORE: Man arrested, charged in two deadly Chattanooga shootings)
After his arrest in April 2020, Maples was found not competent to stand trial by the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute, according to the release.
"However, after receiving competency training, Maples was found competent. Furthermore, the [Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute] found Maples could appreciate the nature and wrongfulness of his conduct at the time of both offenses," the release stated.
On April 12, 2020, Chattanooga police responded to a shooting shortly after 4 p.m. on the 7400 block of Bonny Oaks Drive. They found the victim, 28-year-old Allan Rice, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Rice was taken to the local hospital by Hamilton County emergency services, where he died.
In a shooting on April 26, 2020, police arrived at a home on the 4000 block of Shallowford Road and found a victim, 59-year-old Steven Hunt, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported by Hamilton County emergency services to a local hospital, where he died.
Maples, who was 37 at the time of the shootings, was arrested by Chattanooga Police on April 27, 2020.
According to the release, Maples is to serve the entire 40-year sentence.
- Compiled by La Shawn Pagán