Today Wade Hampton Turner III, 68, was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of
Second Degree Murder with a Firearm following a trial in Collier County in January.
In November 2014 the victim went outside of his house to meet his daughter who was coming to
pick him up so they could go bowling. She was not there yet so as he opened the door to go back
inside Turner, the victim’s roommate, was waiting in the doorway with a loaded firearm pointed
at him. The defendant then shot the victim twice. In an effort to defend himself, the victim fought
to get the gun away from Turner and ended up falling on top of him. The defendant then got out
from underneath the victim and went to a neighbor’s house stating that he thought he had just
killed a man. He and the neighbor called 911. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrived on
scene and arrested Turner.
The defendant claimed he shot the victim in self defense but with further investigation it was
found that the shooting was unprovoked. The defendant also testified during his trial that the
victim had never touched him or threatened him in any way before the crime occurred.
Assistant State Attorneys Mara Marzano and James Stewart handled the case.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
ssyoen@sao20.org
239-533-1125