DeBerry v. State

•Hall, Justice.

A dispute between the DeBerry and Decker families culminated in a shooting in which Carl Decker was killed, and his pregnant wife wounded in the face. Appellant, Raymond DeBerry, was convicted of the murder of Carl Decker, and aggravated assault on Mrs. Decker, and given concurrent sentences of life and ten years.

Appellant claimed he was cornered by the victims in the parking lot of a store, and that Mr. Decker attempted to shoot him with a pistol that misfired. At that time appellant was in his truck, and attempted to escape in that vehicle. He fired his gun to "distract” Mr.…