Chattanooga Man Gets 15-Year Sentence For Killing Security Officer Outside Nightclub
Chattanooga TN June 21 2019
A Chattanooga man accused of shooting and killing a man outside of a nightclub has pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
Andrew Wilson Jr., 34, was initially charged with second-degree murder. He pled guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter as a range three offender.
Judge Barry Steelman sentenced Wilson to 15 years in prison served at 45 percent.
Wilson shot and killed Johnnie Sanders outside of the Bella Vita nightclub in 2016.
According to prosecutor Andrew Coyle, Wilson was a promoter at the club, and Sanders was a security officer.
An argument began outside of the club between a few unruly customers and Wilson. Wilson was asked to leave the premise, and he was escorted away after he refused to leave.
During the fight, Wilson pulled out a gun and shot Sanders in the chest. He initially told police that he shot Sanders in self-defense, claiming he believed Sanders was reaching for a gun.
However, video footage came out soon after, and proved that Wilson’s claim of Sanders reaching for a gun was false.
Wilson then admitted to grabbing his gun in anger.
Sanders was taken to a hospital soon after being shot, but he died a short while after arriving.
This incident was not Wilson’s first shooting. In 2013, Wilson was charged in the shooting death of Desmond McClure.
Wilson also claimed that this shooting was made in self-defense, but he was still charged with second-degree murder.
