Auburn man appeals attempted murder conviction

An Auburn man is appealing the first-degree attempted murder conviction that could lock him in prison for more than 24 years.

Ronald Gray, 21, was convicted earlier this month at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent of first-degree attempted murder with a deadly weapon enhancement for repeatedly stabbing Leroy Travers on the night of Aug. 7.

King Superior Court has not yet set a sentencing date because Gray wants a new trial. If the court denies Gray's appeal, the sentencing will proceed, a spokesman for the King County Prosecutors Office said Tuesday.

According to court records, Gray and two companions were repeatedly threatening individuals who just happened to be walking down C Street Southeast Aug. 7, 2011, and challenging them to fight. The officer who responded to the report of "juveniles fighting" around the intersection of C Street Southeast and 21st Street Southeast arrived just as two men came together and began fighting. According to the officer's car video, one of the man made at least seven swinging, stabbing motions with his hands to the other man's left side in four seconds. According to records, the assailant, later identified as Gray, stabbed Travers after Travers had asked him and his companions to stop and leave his neighborhood.

Travers, who later had to be placed in a medically-induced coma, underwent emergency surgery to remove several inches of his lower intestine.

According to court records, Gray's criminal history includes felony convictions for assault and second-degree robbery, and misdemeanor convictions for criminal trespassing, theft, minor in possession, use of drug paraphernalia and criminal trespassing.

Contact Auburn Reporter News reporter Robert Whale at rwhale@auburn-reporter.com or 253-833-0218, ext. 5052.

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