The Plight of Thomas Autry

ã Dr. Gary D. Lemmons, July 9, 2006

Consider the plight of Thomas Autry, a former U. S. Marine, who on Memorial Day weekend was accosted by five, gun-toting, teenagers bent upon robbing and (probably) killing him.  He resisted the attackers and in the fray one of the vermin, Amy Elizabeth Martin, 17, was killed as Autry fought with the only weapon he had…a pocket knife.

Autry, who works at a Midtown restaurant, was walking home after his shift, when he was attacked by this group.  He was plummeted in the chest with brass knuckles and threatened with guns.

Since the event, Christopher Daniel, 19; Christopher Hayes, 18; Kendall Barksdale, 18; and Keyunta “K K” Dowell, 16, have all been held under charges of aggravated assault, possession of firearms in the commission of a felony, and criminal attempt to commit armed robbery.

On Monday, July 3, Fulton Superior Court T. Jackson Bedford granted bond to the four defendants despite a plea to the contrary by the victim Thomas Autry.  Autry told the judge that he and his family were fearful of reprisals from the group.

Already, Autry has been victimized by friends of the gang.  Recently, Autry was surrounded in the parking lot by some eight friends of the would-be robbers and harassed for defending himself against the assaulters. 

“That the dude who’s got our boy hemmed up,” said one member of the group that surrounded Autry.

The eight slime balls melted away when Autry yelled to his girlfriend to call the police.

It is interesting that in court on Monday, the parents, a several teachers and coaches, and a number of friends of the defendants were present to urge bond.  In particular, the parents were eager to work with the court and to submit to any court restrictions in order to liberate their offspring.  Too bad, they weren’t around when their spawn were out playing the inner city version of Jesse James!

First, it is a shame that a hard-working man or woman cannot walk the streets from their place of business to their home without being accosted by a group of thugs.

Second, it is a shame that the various state legislatures, not to mention the Congress, do not enact more liberal gun laws that would allow the citizenry to more effectively bear arms to deal with ruffians. In my judgment, every adult, who has not been convicted of a felony or adjudicated as mentally incompetent, should have the right to bear arms “almost” anywhere!

Most important, it is a shame that parents first become concerned about being involved in controlling the deportment of their children “after” the latter are arrested and are appearing before a judge.

I feel bad for Thomas Autry.  He doesn’t deserve the harassment he has received from the thugees of his neighborhood.