Knoxville man convicted of ‘pistol whipping’ victim, district attorney says

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - A Knoxville man with 30 prior felony convictions has been convicted of another crime, according to Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen.

Allen said 50-year-old Larry Lynn Ray was convicted of aggravated assault after he “pistol whipped” a victim in September 2023.

In a two-day trial, assistant district attorneys explained to the jury that officers with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to an assault call in South Knoxville on Sept. 24, 2023, according to Allen. When officers met with the victim, he reportedly described how he and another person were parked in the driveway of a home on Tipton Station Road when “Ray opened the driver’s side door and put a gun to the back of the victim’s head.”

Allen said Ray then “pistol whipped” the victim and struck him with the handle of the weapon. The victim then drove away and called 911.

After Ray was arrested, Allen said he called family members and asked them to contact the victim to convince him not to testify.

Ray’s sentencing is scheduled for July 18. Because of his 30 prior convictions in Knox, Union, and Sevier counties and federal court, he faces up to 15 years behind bars without the possibility of parole.