Samuel James Cooper (born January 12, 1977) is an American serial killer who murdered five men in North Carolina between 2006 and 2007. Convicted of five counts of first degree murder, Cooper was spared a death sentence and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Cooper grew up in an abusive home. Cooper's father regularly beat him, his Mother and his four siblings. He started beating Cooper by the time he was 3 months old, and the abuse escalated as he grew older. By the time he was 13 years old, Cooper stopped crying during the beatings, and, according to a psychiatrist at his murder trial, stopped "feeling fear or fearing pain."[1][2][3]
Adult years
Cooper committed numerous crimes as an adult, including several armed robberies in 1994. In 1999, while serving time for the robberies, Cooper and two other inmates escaped by attacking and overpowering their supervisor, then taking control of his vehicle. When he was in court to be sentenced for the escape several months later, Cooper attacked a deputy in court and unsuccessfully tried to take her sidearm. He was released from prison for these crimes in February 2006.[4]
Murders, trial, and conviction
On May 12, 2006, Samuel shot and killed Ossama Haj-Hussein, 43. On June 3, 2006, he shot and killed LeRoy Jernigan, 41. On April 27, 2007, he shot and killed Timothy Barnwell, 34. On October 12, 2007, he shot and killed Ricky High, 48. On October 14, 2007, he shot and killed Tariq Hussain, 52. He killed some of his victims during armed robberies.
Police arrested Cooper in November 2007 following a local bank robbery. Cooper was linked to the murders from a handgun he had dropped while fleeing the bank robbery. He eventually confessed to the murders.
Cooper was charged, tried, and found guilty of five counts of first degree murder. Cooper's defense team sought a life sentence, arguing that his childhood abuse had affected his mental state. Prosecutors sought a death sentence, pointing to his history of violence, saying that even if Cooper did suffer from mental disorders, they did not have any effect on his willingness to kill.[5] The jury ultimately spared Cooper's life, and he was instead sentenced to five life terms without parole, one for each murder. He is serving his sentence at Warren Correctional Institution.[6]
^WRAL (2010-03-29). "Cooper's sister: Childhood was like 'living with the devil' :". WRAL.com. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
^WRAL (2010-03-15). "Defense: Murder suspect suffered from years of abuse :". WRAL.com. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
^WRAL (2010-04-12). "Witness: Social services failed Cooper growing up :". WRAL.com. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
^WRAL (2007-11-29). "Deputy Remembers the Day He Encountered Cooper :". WRAL.com. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
^WRAL (2010-04-08). "Psychiatrist: Cooper chose to shoot and kill :". WRAL.com. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
^"NC DPS Offender Public Information". webapps.doc.state.nc.us. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
March 30, 2023
samuel, cooper, serial, killer, samuel, james, cooper, born, january, 1977, american, serial, killer, murdered, five, north, carolina, between, 2006, 2007, convicted, five, counts, first, degree, murder, cooper, spared, death, sentence, sentenced, life, prison. Samuel James Cooper born January 12 1977 is an American serial killer who murdered five men in North Carolina between 2006 and 2007 Convicted of five counts of first degree murder Cooper was spared a death sentence and sentenced to life in prison without parole Samuel James CooperBorn 1977 01 12 January 12 1977 age 46 North Carolina U S Criminal statusIncarceratedConviction s First degree murder 5 counts Armed robberyCriminal penaltyLife without paroleDetailsVictims5Span of crimes2006 2007CountryUnited StatesState s North CarolinaWeaponsPistolImprisoned atWarren Correctional Institution Contents 1 Early life 2 Adult years 3 Murders trial and conviction 4 See also 5 ReferencesEarly life EditCooper grew up in an abusive home Cooper s father regularly beat him his Mother and his four siblings He started beating Cooper by the time he was 3 months old and the abuse escalated as he grew older By the time he was 13 years old Cooper stopped crying during the beatings and according to a psychiatrist at his murder trial stopped feeling fear or fearing pain 1 2 3 Adult years EditCooper committed numerous crimes as an adult including several armed robberies in 1994 In 1999 while serving time for the robberies Cooper and two other inmates escaped by attacking and overpowering their supervisor then taking control of his vehicle When he was in court to be sentenced for the escape several months later Cooper attacked a deputy in court and unsuccessfully tried to take her sidearm He was released from prison for these crimes in February 2006 4 Murders trial and conviction EditOn May 12 2006 Samuel shot and killed Ossama Haj Hussein 43 On June 3 2006 he shot and killed LeRoy Jernigan 41 On April 27 2007 he shot and killed Timothy Barnwell 34 On October 12 2007 he shot and killed Ricky High 48 On October 14 2007 he shot and killed Tariq Hussain 52 He killed some of his victims during armed robberies Police arrested Cooper in November 2007 following a local bank robbery Cooper was linked to the murders from a handgun he had dropped while fleeing the bank robbery He eventually confessed to the murders Cooper was charged tried and found guilty of five counts of first degree murder Cooper s defense team sought a life sentence arguing that his childhood abuse had affected his mental state Prosecutors sought a death sentence pointing to his history of violence saying that even if Cooper did suffer from mental disorders they did not have any effect on his willingness to kill 5 The jury ultimately spared Cooper s life and he was instead sentenced to five life terms without parole one for each murder He is serving his sentence at Warren Correctional Institution 6 See also EditList of serial killers in the United StatesReferences Edit WRAL 2010 03 29 Cooper s sister Childhood was like living with the devil WRAL com Retrieved 2021 12 20 WRAL 2010 03 15 Defense Murder suspect suffered from years of abuse WRAL com Retrieved 2021 12 20 WRAL 2010 04 12 Witness Social services failed Cooper growing up WRAL com Retrieved 2021 12 20 WRAL 2007 11 29 Deputy Remembers the Day He Encountered Cooper WRAL com Retrieved 2021 12 20 WRAL 2010 04 08 Psychiatrist Cooper chose to shoot and kill WRAL com Retrieved 2021 12 20 NC DPS Offender Public Information webapps doc state nc us Retrieved 2021 12 20 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Samuel Cooper serial killer amp oldid 1146827835, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
