A motorcyclist who opened fire at a truck driver during what was initially thought to be a road rage incident has received a light sentence due to his record of military service.
Trenton Norris served in the U.S. Army for 13 years, saw combat in Iraq, and earned numerous commendations. On September 16th, 2016, Norris opened fire on a truck being driven by Allen Shotko. Shotko wasn’t injured, but his truck was struck by the gunfire.
During the trial, Norris said that when he was next to the truck, he thought its driver was “trying to get him.” Since he thought he was in danger, he reacted as he had been trained in the military.
According to the prosecution however, Shotko hadn’t done anything wrong to provoke the attack, and Norris shot at a different vehicle a few miles further down the road as well.
Despite that, even the prosecutor was torn as to what amount of jail time he would seek due to Norris’ military service.
“No thank you I give is enough, but I think it’s important for the court to consider that he suffered from PTSD for quite some time,” the prosecutor said according to The Herald Palladium. “But the court should also consider the seriousness of his actions and the danger the public was put in.”
Norris told the judge that he had been trying to get in to a VA clinic to get help, but hadn’t been able to enroll since his wife was in school and he had to work in order to provide for her and his two kids.
“I made a huge mistake,” Norris said. “I really honestly did. There’s an unseen battle between truck drivers, motorcycles and other vehicles. I’ve lost about five friends on motorcycles.”
Norris pled guilty to assault with intent to do great bodily harm, discharge of a weapon from a motor vehicle, and felony firearm. Norris could easily have spent more than 20 years in jail for those crimes, but instead he will serve his mandatory two-year term on the felony firearm charge, followed by one to ten years for the assault charge running concurrently with 186 days for the discharge of a weapon from a motor vehicle.
During the sentencing, the judge made it clear why he went easy on Norris.
“I know your service came at a great cost to your mental health. I don’t know that our country is doing enough for our returning combat veterans. I’ve seen it in this court,” the judge said. “But you engaged in very dangerous behavior. If you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail, and in combat you’re trained to react. You were trained to be a hammer, and everything looks like a nail. We are fortunate no one was injured or killed that day.”
Source: truckersreport, woodtv, wndu, haraldpalladium, heraldpalladium
The lighter sentence is appropriate in this case, but the question remains will this vet get the help he needs to deal with his PTSD ? or will he be released into the public with more baggage. For his sake and his family I hope he gets the help he needs.
21-year veteran here, and I say give him the maximum sentence. PTSD is not an excuse for his behavior.
He’ll be released and eventually kill someone, or open fire on a crowd. There was no excuse for what he did, other than rage, and I pray he gets the help he needs.
Look he should have stop driving the motorcycle. Come on 5 of his friends died or hurt in motorcycles. Yes the VA is failing again. Thanks Senator John McCain I am a Viet Nam vet and I adjusted well because I took precautions. I knew I was a potential risk. So I became responsible single. To this day I still will not pick up a gun.
Why was he carrying a gun? He has to take responsibility and be a rubber hammer. The sentence should be Mandatory inpatient care at an appropriate facility. Jail time will not help him but he needs help and the rule be the judge should order the medical care he needs
Great answer, and I thank you for your service, even when I can’t agree on the wars. Maybe one day you will help others to be okay again.
Seems to me the fact that he mentioned his friends on bikes is what pissed him off. I don’t think it had to do anything with ptsd at all. It was the bike versus all other vehicles issue. Although if you drive a big truck you SEE how bikes cut trucks off everyday. I think the judge missed this one by a long shot, but I bet the time will cut that insecure ego down a notch or two.
I think you hit the nail on the head!
Bikers who ride beside a heavy truck are not smart. Bikers who interpret trucks as threatening need to stop riding next to heavy trucks. Bikers who think they are a special circumstance just because they are bikers and/or are biking are not smart. NFG for this biker in particular who does not know when to use, when not to use, or how to use lethal a force weapon, even though trained and experienced by 13 years. I spent several months in and around Da Nang, South Viet Nam. I have no regrets except for lost Brothers and no post combat issues. For this guy who has 13 years experience of should-have-known-better: NFG.
… and one more thing, in my experience, the men I served with were not and are not wusses. It seems to me it’s only the wusses who claim victimhood to ptsd. I claim it a cop-out – pure BS.
My thoughts exactly. BTW, why didn’t this clown think about his wife and kids when he was shooting up trucks?
Only in American would any of this trial’s reasoning make sense…
This is what happens when you glorify military service as some sort of great service to the country. Serving in the middle east is not a good thing. It did not benefit anyone and it continues to be a monumental drain on our resources for no gain.
Even judges can show sympathy.
They’re not glorified but respected. We have our rights because they uphold their oath to our country and us. We may disagree and so may they. In the end we are all one nation under God and must work together.
Then why don’t you move on over there, if you dislike the way the majority is running this country. Remember in a democracy, the majority rules.
Sour grapes! What have you done for anyone but yourself? Don’t cut the Vets down because you disagree with what they are sent to do. Blame your government!
What happened to getting this guy any kind of medical help for his PTSD? Putting him in jail will do zippo for him …and when he gets out…he might do it again…when you mentally are still at war…you use your survivor skills from war..its time to bring Mr. NORRIS HOME… PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY…WE OWE THAT TO HIM..
Now the PTSD folks can now use the excuse the cops use to shoot innocent people ” I thought my life was in danger ” It will sure get you a lighter sentence. So watch everyone use this excuse now !
My husband is a Veteran too. Also a truck driver. That motorcyclist should never have been allowed on the road back. With thinking, that there is a ‘battle’ going on? Who gave him the gun? He is like an unexploded bomb now! He needs to be treated and watched!
Totally agree. Our liberal courts are encouraging people to be unaccountable. I’m sure he is sorry. But from what I read it seems he knew he had some disorder and he should have taken care of it and not blame the VA or government. Further more this mentality of you’re a biker, or a trucker or a motorist is plain dumb. We are all citizens period. I ride a bike, drive truck and car….what does that make me ? I would have given him 10-20 hard labor.
If he suffers from ptsd he shouldn’t have a gun.