Shelby County SWAT member Chris Harris, who was shot by Turk four times as he opened a closet door where the rapper was hiding, during the drug raid, filed suit against Turk in October 2004. Turk (Born Tab Virgil), who has vehemently denied shooting Harris, did not respond to the suit, but in December the rapper was declared liable for Harris’ injuries. After hearing the deputy’s testimony, Judge James Russell set compensatory and punitive damages at $10 million.
Since the shooting, Harris has undergone three surgeries, including one in which a bone from his hip was used to repair his fractured jaw. "I call him the walking, talking miracle," Randall Fishman, Harris’ attorney, told The Commercial Appeal. "He’s made a remarkable recovery from what he’s been through. He’s a dedicated public servant." Fishman also divulged that he is searching for assets that Turk may have, including a recording label he is affiliated with, to satisfy the judgment.
Turk was convicted of being a felon with a handgun, a fugitive with a handgun and a drug addict with a handgun in federal court last year. Last month, Turk entered an Alford plea, also known as a best-interest plea, in which a defendant may dispute some of the allegations but accepts an agreed-upon sentence, to avoid a longer sentence if convicted at trial. The plea has the same legal effect as a guilty plea.
Turk pleaded to attempted second-degree murder and was handed the 12-year sentence. He faced up to 25 years if convicted as charged of attempted first-degree murder. Jay Bailey, Turk’s lawyer, is hoping to arrange for the New Orleans-bred rapper to server both sentences at the same time in the federal system.
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