FAST FOOD RESTAURANT KILLING LEADS TO
LIFE PRISON SENTENCE FOR INMAN MAN

An Inman man received a life prison sentence tonight for shooting a man to death in the parking lot of a local fast food restaurant.

A jury deliberated more than six hours before finding Harold D. Upton, 56, of 304 Little Angel Road, guilty of murder. Circuit Judge Derham Cole sentenced the defendant at the conclusion of a two-day trial.

Upton shot Frank C. Davis, 27, of 101 McDowell St., Landrum, to death on March 17, 2003 in the parking lot of McDonald’s Restaurant, 11961 Asheville Highway. A verbal argument between Upton’s son, Keith, and Davis triggered the fatal sequence of events, according to Assistant Solicitor Bob Coler.

After the argument, Keith Upton left the business and his parents, Harold & Vickie Upton, arrived minutes later.

More harsh words were traded when the Uptons returned. Harold Upton shot Davis twice with a 9 mm handgun. Davis was hit in the head while he stood outside the Uptons’ car. The Uptons fled the scene following the shooting. Davis died as a result of a gunshot wound to his head the following morning, Coler said.

Harold Upton was charged with murder on March 19, 2003. He is not eligible for parole.