Edward Lavar King Sentenced to 80 Years

(Gadsden, AL - March 6, 2010) Etowah County District Attorney Jimmie Harp announces the sentencing of 31 year old Gadsden resident, Edward Lavar King today. Harp says King was sentenced to 80 years in prison this week by Etowah County Circuit Judge David Kimberley.

King was convicted of murder in the shooting death of Jason Snyder on January 14, 2010 by an Etowah County Jury. The murder occurred on August 24, 2006 in the 700 block of South 6th Street in Gadsden.

According to court documents, King was initially stabbed in the back by the victim. That stabbing was the result of a weeks old dispute between both King and Snyder. After being stabbed, King pulled a .25 caliber pistol and shot him two times while chasing him away from the premises.

After being hit, Snyder fell face down in the street, defenseless and lying motionless, King walked up to Snyder and shot him two more times in the back of the head at point blank range.

Harp says he is extremely please with Kimberley's sentence. He also praised the hard work of Gadsden Police Department lead investigator Roger Dale, lead prosecutor Deputy District Attorney Billy Ogletree, assisting prosecutor Deputy District Attorney Gary Phillips. He also thanked the eye witnesses for their cooperation and courage.

Harp praised Kimberley's sentence, stating, "This verdict will provide a measure of closure to the victim's family, and will put violent offenders on notice that street violence will not be tolerated in Etowah County."

While sentencing King to 80 years imprisonment, Kimberley explained that street violence is not at home in Etowah County, "this isn't Dodge City. This isn't the O.K. Corral. Your actions on August 24, 2006, were nothing more than cold-blooded murder."

District Attorney Jimmie Harp says this sentence will send a message that "those that are convicted of such heinous acts will never have the opportunity to grace our cities streets ever again."