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Anthony Lee Chaney

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Anthony Lee Chaney

Birth
Cullman, Cullman County, Alabama, USA
Death
16 Feb 2000 (aged 45)
Coconino County, Arizona, USA
Burial
Burial Details Unknown Add to Map
Memorial ID
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In September 1982, Anthony Lee Chaney and Deanna Jo Saunders-Coleman had already committed several burglaries in Texas and Colorado, before bringing their crime spree to Arizona.

It was Labor Day weekend when the couple crossed the border into Arizona, driving a stolen pick up truck and carrying 11 stolen guns.

They heard the Arizona Highway Patrol was setting up their usual holiday weekend DUI roadblocks. Not wanting to be caught, they found a place to camp outside Flagstaff until the roadblocks were taken down.

Coconino County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Cline happened to see the couple camping in an unusual area and went to investigate. Deputy Cline asked Chaney for his ID, and as Chaney went to the truck to retrieve it, Deputy Cline talked with Chaney's girlfriend, Saunders-Coleman.

Chaney soon emerged from the truck with a gun pointed directly at the deputy. Saunders-Coleman took Deputy Cline's gun and they handcuffed him to a tree.

Little did they know, a dispatcher was trying to get a hold of Deputy Cline on the radio. When he failed to answer, the dispatcher sent another deputy to investigate.

As Chaney and his girlfriend were leaving the area in the stolen truck, they crossed paths with reserve Coconino County Deputy, Dr. John Jamison.

Chaney jumped out of the truck, firing off more than 30 shots. Using the screen of bullets as a shield, he pinned down Jamison and moved closer and closer to his target. Chaney fired 3 more shots at point black range; so close that gun powder residue was found on Jamison. He was hit with over 200 pieces of flying glass and metal.

Coconino County Sheriff Joseph Richards talked about the killing of his deputy saying "John (Jamison) is the prey and he (Chaney) is the hunter," said Richards, "This officer was pinned down, unable to unbuckle his seat belt, unable to disengage his weapon."

Chaney returned to the truck telling his girlfriend, "Murder one, reload."

As the couple left in the truck, Saunders-Coleman saw that the reserve Deputy Jamison was still alive and trying to drive away. He was still conscious when the medics arrived, telling them, "I'm dying and I can't breathe."

Chaney wanted to change vehicles, and soon found two boys in a truck. He sent his girlfriend to talk to the boys, while he snuck up and carjacked them at gunpoint. The boys were fortunate though, as Chaney spared their lives by telling them to run into the forest.

Once Chaney was gone, the boys ran out of the forest and called police with a description of the stolen truck.

Thanks to their quick action, the truck was quickly spotted and police quickly captured Chaney and Saunders-Coleman without anyone else being hurt.

Chaney was convicted on March 17, 1983 and executed by lethal injection on February 16, 2000. Deanna Saunders-Coleman testified against Chaney and plead guilty to second degree murder, receiving a 21-year prison sentence for which she served 14 years. She was released from prison on January 31, 1999.
In September 1982, Anthony Lee Chaney and Deanna Jo Saunders-Coleman had already committed several burglaries in Texas and Colorado, before bringing their crime spree to Arizona.

It was Labor Day weekend when the couple crossed the border into Arizona, driving a stolen pick up truck and carrying 11 stolen guns.

They heard the Arizona Highway Patrol was setting up their usual holiday weekend DUI roadblocks. Not wanting to be caught, they found a place to camp outside Flagstaff until the roadblocks were taken down.

Coconino County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Cline happened to see the couple camping in an unusual area and went to investigate. Deputy Cline asked Chaney for his ID, and as Chaney went to the truck to retrieve it, Deputy Cline talked with Chaney's girlfriend, Saunders-Coleman.

Chaney soon emerged from the truck with a gun pointed directly at the deputy. Saunders-Coleman took Deputy Cline's gun and they handcuffed him to a tree.

Little did they know, a dispatcher was trying to get a hold of Deputy Cline on the radio. When he failed to answer, the dispatcher sent another deputy to investigate.

As Chaney and his girlfriend were leaving the area in the stolen truck, they crossed paths with reserve Coconino County Deputy, Dr. John Jamison.

Chaney jumped out of the truck, firing off more than 30 shots. Using the screen of bullets as a shield, he pinned down Jamison and moved closer and closer to his target. Chaney fired 3 more shots at point black range; so close that gun powder residue was found on Jamison. He was hit with over 200 pieces of flying glass and metal.

Coconino County Sheriff Joseph Richards talked about the killing of his deputy saying "John (Jamison) is the prey and he (Chaney) is the hunter," said Richards, "This officer was pinned down, unable to unbuckle his seat belt, unable to disengage his weapon."

Chaney returned to the truck telling his girlfriend, "Murder one, reload."

As the couple left in the truck, Saunders-Coleman saw that the reserve Deputy Jamison was still alive and trying to drive away. He was still conscious when the medics arrived, telling them, "I'm dying and I can't breathe."

Chaney wanted to change vehicles, and soon found two boys in a truck. He sent his girlfriend to talk to the boys, while he snuck up and carjacked them at gunpoint. The boys were fortunate though, as Chaney spared their lives by telling them to run into the forest.

Once Chaney was gone, the boys ran out of the forest and called police with a description of the stolen truck.

Thanks to their quick action, the truck was quickly spotted and police quickly captured Chaney and Saunders-Coleman without anyone else being hurt.

Chaney was convicted on March 17, 1983 and executed by lethal injection on February 16, 2000. Deanna Saunders-Coleman testified against Chaney and plead guilty to second degree murder, receiving a 21-year prison sentence for which she served 14 years. She was released from prison on January 31, 1999.

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