Convicted killer shoots and critically wounds Mayor who backed his parole after 2nd degree murder, thought his 'attitude' was better

6/16/11, "Man shot mayor who backed his parole," AP, Little Rock

"A convicted killer who was out on parole shot and critically wounded a northern Arkansas mayor who had written a letter in support of his release from prison, records show.

Everton Mayor Bill Gerdes was in critical condition at a hospital in Springfield, Mo., after he was shot in the back and left hand Wednesday night.

Authorities arrested Justin Bates around midnight Wednesday after an hours-long standoff outside his father's home in Everton. Boone County Sheriff Danny Hickman said Bates, 35, faces a count of attempted capital murder and a firearms charge....

Nearly five years ago, when Bates became eligible for parole in a second-degree murder case,

• Gerdes wrote to authorities on Bates' behalf.

"Having visited him during his incarceration from time to time I have noticed his progress and a change of atitude, espepecially (sic) the last 2 years," Gerdes wrote in an August 2006 letter obtained by The Associated Press. "I think him and his outlook on life

• have changed a lot for the better.""...

via Lucianne.com