27° CLEAR, Man charged with murder after shooting
Zachary Smith charged in death of Arthur Pete Davis
Last Modified: Sunday, July 15, 2007 at 12:24 a.m.
KILLEN -- A Lauderdale County man has been arrested in the shooting death of his friend and neighbor, authorities said.
Lauderdale County Sheriff Ronnie Willis said murder charges have been filed against 48-year-old Zachary Smith, 4267 Lauderdale 63, which is also known as Harrison Road.
Willis said Smith is accused of shooting 48-year-old Arthur Pete Davis, who also lived on Lauderdale 63.
Chief Investigator Travis Clemmons said Davis was shot outside Smith's residence around 9 p.m. Friday.
Clemmons said Davis was taken to Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital, where he died around 3 a.m.
He said Smith was taken into custody for questioning Friday evening and then later charged with first-degree assault.
"After we were notified that (Davis) had died, the charges were upgraded to murder,'' Clemmons said.
Authorities said the altercation that lead to the shooting was alcohol induced.
Clemmons said Davis, who lived in a camper only a short distance from where the shooting happened, had walked to the residence earlier in the night.
"They knew each other, not only as neighbors, but as friends,'' Clemmons said.
Department officials said the investigation revealed that the two apparently had been drinking and got into an argument that escalated.
Both men were outside Smith's residence and at some point during the altercation, Smith went inside his house, got a .20-gauge shotgun, came back outside and shot Davis, Clemmons said.
Emergency medical personnel said Davis was shot once in the side near the stomach.
Clemmons said Smith was still at the residence when authorities arrived. He said investigators recovered the weapon believed to have been used in the shooting.
"This was over nothing,'' Willis said. "Alcohol causes trouble and that's what happened in this case.
"It's sad that someone lost his life over a silly drunken argument.''
Clemmons said Smith is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center on bail totaling $100,000.
This is the eighth homicide in Lauderdale County this year.
Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.
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July 16, 2007 11:27:48 pm
RE: http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070715/NEWS/707150345
So what does everyone think of this? Do you believe that alcohol was to blame?
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July 17, 2007 1:10:38 am
From a psychological nursing perspective, that would certainly be my take on it. Does anyone see it any differently? I've never been drunk, but I've always heard you're either a happy drunk or an angry drunk. I don't think either of these guys was happy.
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July 17, 2007 3:14:27 am
I'm a sleepy drunk. Or a sleepy one sipper.I've never thought alcohol was to "blame" for anything. I don't think you do anything drinking you aren't capable of doing sober. Alcohol gives you an excuse.
Like Lewis Grizzard always said about the mating call of the "Georgia Peach"...."I'm soooooo drunk!"
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July 17, 2007 4:58:15 am
I knew the one that got shot and I dont think he deserved to die like that. Yes he was an alcholic and I thought the world of him. I dont think alchol had a role in this from what I have been hearing.
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July 17, 2007 5:27:07 am
I knew the shooter and the victim. I also know things about their past. When you mix guns with alcohol or drugs, you lower your changes for survival. They do not go well together.I also remember a similar incident which occurred years ago in Colbert County. The victim was also know for his reputation, and was found to be in possession of a stolen handgun when he was killed.
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July 17, 2007 5:29:15 am
From someone in the (know). I have known both of these people for a long time. Pete was a large man that would almost always try to start trouble when he was drinking, or at least be overbearing. Zach is a small man who would only back up so much. I'm sure Pete crossed the line somehow. I can account many times Pete would get loud and say something to make someone want to fight him, only to wind up putting that person in the hospital. I guess you could say he was a bully, he was not allowed at any of the bars on the Tennessee line.
As for myself, Pete always treated me with respect.
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July 17, 2007 5:30:11 am
Put a gun in the hand of a drunk rednec idiot and this is what you get.
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July 17, 2007 6:58:09 am
Man I bet Smith feels like crap now that he's sobered up...I'm glad I rarely drink, and when I do I know what is going on around me and try to keep a level head.
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July 17, 2007 7:06:02 am
I haven't seen an obit / death notice for Pete. Am I just over looking it or has one been published? Has anyone heard about any funeral arrangements?
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July 17, 2007 7:32:12 am
The obit is in todays listing. Visitation tonight at Stutts c.o.c. with burial tomorrow at Shiloh cemetery.
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