Samuel James Cooper was born on January 12, 1977, in North Carolina. He grew up in a difficult environment. His family life was troubled and marked by abuse. His father beat him and the rest of the family regularly. The violent behavior started when Cooper was just 3 months old and only got worse as he grew older. Cooper and his four siblings lived in fear of their father's rage.

By the time Cooper was 13, he had become so accustomed to the abuse that he no longer cried during the beatings. A psychiatrist later testified that he stopped feeling fear or pain. 

On May 12, 2006, Samuel James Cooper shot and killed Ossama Haj-Hussein, who was 43 years old. Just a few weeks later, on June 3, 2006, he killed LeRoy Jernigan, who was 41. The following year, on April 27, 2007, Cooper shot and killed Timothy Barnwell, who was 34.

Later that year, on October 12, he killed Ricky High, who was 48 years old. Just two days later, on October 14, 2007, he shot and killed Tariq Hussain, who was 52. Some of these murders occurred during armed robberies.

Cooper was arrested in November 2007 after a bank robbery. During his flight from the robbery, he dropped a handgun, which linked him to the murders. After his arrest, he eventually confessed to the killings.

He faced charges for five counts of first-degree murder. During his trial, his defense team argued that his troubled childhood affected his mental state. However, prosecutors emphasized his history of violence, stating that his mental conditions did not stop him from wanting to kill.

The jury decided not to give Cooper the death penalty. Instead, he was sentenced to five life terms without the possibility of parole, one for each murder. He is currently serving his sentences at Warren Correctional Institution.