Randy Leo Chaney, a 54-year-old white male, tragically lost his life on Sunday, March 27, 2011, during a violent armed robbery at his place of employment in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Chaney, a resident of Greenwell Springs and a native of Baker, was a dedicated employee at the CarQuest Auto Parts store on Airline Highway. Known as an avid self-taught mechanic, he was a beloved husband of 26 years and a proud father.
His life was cut short alongside his co-worker, Edward Gurtner, III, in a crime that shook the community.
The incident unfolded that Sunday morning when a man entered the auto parts store. The perpetrator, later identified as Lee Turner, Jr., fatally shot both Chaney and Gurtner. Randy Chaney died from a single gunshot wound to the back of his head, fired at close range. His co-worker, Edward Gurtner, was shot multiple times. The motive for the brutal killings was determined to be armed robbery.
The investigation swiftly led to the arrest of Lee Turner, Jr., who was 21 years old at the time. He was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder and armed robbery. Turner, an African-American man with no prior criminal record, was brought to trial for the murders of the two men. A jury found him guilty on both counts of first-degree murder.
Following the guilty verdict, the penalty phase of the trial concluded with the jury unanimously recommending a sentence of death for Lee Turner, Jr. However, in a later appeal, while his convictions for the murders were affirmed, his death sentences were vacated due to a legal issue concerning jury selection in his trial. The case was remanded to the trial court for further proceedings regarding his sentencing.
