Seventy-five-year term sought in shooting

Saturday, September 2nd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla.-Prosecutors have recommend a 75-year prison sentence for a multistate felon who pleaded guilty to severely wounding a Tulsa restaurant manager during a botched holdup.

Sentencing is scheduled on Oct. 16 for Gregory Alan Burris, who pleaded guilty on Friday to five felonies linked to a robbery-shooting at the Outback Steakhouse.

Burris, 34, pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery, shooting with intent to kill, possessing a firearm as a felon and two counts of feloniously pointing a weapon. Prosecutors are recommending a 45-year prison term for the attempted robbery plus a consecutive 30-year sentence for the other counts.

Burris admitted that he shot David Bowles at the restaurant on Oct. 10, 1998. Bowles has said he has no memory of what happened during the shooting. He said he woke up in a hospital days later and "saw numerous staples on my chest and stomach."

Bowles was shot twice in the back and once in the head. He required extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation before returning to work.

Bowles was not asked to make a courtroom identification of the shooter during a preliminary hearing but three other Outback workers identified Burris as being in the restaurant and carrying a gun.

Burris was arrested in Fort Smith, Ark., and extradited to Oklahoma on Feb. 1. Prosecutors said Burris has been convicted in Texas and Arkansas for theft and was convicted in California on counterfeiting-related charges and evading an officer.