NORFOLK
By the time the gunfire ended, Matthew Lingerfelt bled from 12 bullet wounds. He fell to the ground outside his apartment.
Off-duty police Investigator K.L. Tennis had heard the shots from inside his own apartment on W. Ocean View Avenue. Tennis grabbed his gun and police radio and headed outside. Lingerfelt, his neighbor, was trying to get up off the ground.
“He looked like a sprinkler of blood,” Tennis said, “he was filled with so many holes.”
Tennis put a hand on Lingerfelt’s shoulder as he began to pass out. “Stay with me,” he commanded.
Tennis interviewed witnesses and put out a description of the shooter over his radio. Within moments, another officer had stopped Andy Patrick Williams.
On Friday, Lingerfelt limped to the witness stand on legs that sustained two gunshots each to testify during Williams’ sentencing hearing in Norfolk Circuit Court.
Lingerfelt showed the indentations left by bullets that hit his side when he crumpled to the ground. And he held up his arms to cradle his head as he did that day in July 2003 when Williams stood over him and shot six more times. The bullet scars marched up his arms.
“I covered my head because I thought he was going to shoot me in the head,” Lingerfelt said.
Prosecutor Linda Bryant said Williams and a friend, Luke Haldorf, had gone to Lingerfelt’s apartment to burglarize it. The pair knew Lingerfelt. When Lingerfelt came home while the two were inside, Williams started shooting. Haldorf shimmied out a window and was caught by police nearby. He is serving five years for the crimes.
Williams was convicted in November of aggravated malicious wounding, armed burglary and using a gun during the crimes. His lawyer, B. Thomas Reed, called witnesses who testified that Williams, 26, had been hospitalized for mental problems including bipolar and psychotic disorders since he was a teenager.
Judge Norman A. Thomas said he felt empathy for Williams’ mental illness, but could not risk the public’s safety against Williams’ unwillingness to remain on his medications. Thomas sentenced Williams on Friday to two life terms plus three years.
Williams faces trial in June on murder and other charges from an April 2002 crime.
Michelle Washington, (757) 446-2287, michelle.washington@pilotonline.com
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let's get it straight
I feel sory for the person who posted their comment on Sunday they are the one who has it wrong. Not the newspaper or the judge. One can only think it must be a family member or friend of the one accused. I wonder if they would feel the same if it was their love one that went through it. What's funny is how they came up with there side of the story. they must of missed out on the various witness to this crime. I wonder what there feeling is on him being charged with murder in 2002. I guess they have a comment on that one to. Let's face it some people are just evil and they don't think they should have to own up to there crime. Well thank God we still have judges who see and hear it different. I just want to say thank you for reporting the truth, to the person who feels different. They are the ones who need to get the facts straight.
The facts are wrong
The author of this article has no idea what she's talking about. Andy shot at the victim 12 times, but he was hit 4 times. 2 in the arm, and 2 in his legs. All this happened as the guy was fighting with his friend, not as Andy stood over him. They're both boys who tragically got mixed up in the wrong crowd, and that's the price they pay for it I guess, but lying in new paper articles or not checking your fact before you write the articles isn't making things any better for anyone.
This judge consistently
This judge consistently recognizes a dangerous, amoral, and worthless person and sentences them appropriately. It seems like the prevailing philosophy among the judicial system these days is "C'mon, let's give him one more chance."
Judge Thomas Better Watch Out
Judge Thomas is one of the few remaining judges in Norfolk who is willing to protect the public from the out-of-control violence in our city. He better be careful though. Now that the criminal defense bar thinks they can get rid of unfavorable judges, he'll be their next target - especially now that Senators Northam and Miller have proven that they don't care about public safety.