Prosecutors seek death penalty
Prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the capital murder trial of Shane Lonix. Lonix is accused of killing the Plumerville Assistant police Chief. Today's announcement was made by Prosecutor Tom Tatum after a pretrial hearing in Conway County. But as Fox 16's LaTresha Woodruff tells us the trial is more than a year away.
As he walked into the Conway County Courthouse accused killer Shane Lonix stared straight ahead and didn't say a word. Lonix is charged with capital murder in the death of Plumerville Assistant Police Chief Joey Cannon. Just weeks before his retirement Cannon was shot to death while making a traffic stop on highway 64 near Plumerville.
Prosecutor Tom Tatum says this is a death penalty case but it'll be a year before the case goes to trial. Tatum says the reason scheduling conflicts and both sides want time to prepare. Cannon's son Josh, a Conway County Deputy, attended the hearing, he didn't want to comment but Tatum says the family is in agreement. "You get a case this serious, I'm sure the defense wants to take their time going through all of the information, all the of the entire case file," says Tatum.
Today's pre-trial hearing is the starts the filing of what Tatum suspects will be the first of many motions. Among them is a defense request for access to any criminal records Lonix may have along with DHS files.
While the proceedings here in the courtroom were about motions those involved say they're working hard to keep their emotions out of it. "Yes, it's hard but also I've been doing this 20 something years, you have to put your personal feelings aside and do your job," says Chief Bill Hartman with Plumerville police.
Hartman says he wants justice but he also wants fairness because Joey Cannon wouldn't haven't it any other way.
Lonix's next pre-trial hearing is set for August 11th, 2010. He goes to trial October 18, 2010. Lonix is represented by the Arkansas Public Defender Commission.
Plumerville officer shot and killed during traffic stop
Hearts are heavy in Conway County after a Plumerville police officer is shot and killed during a traffic stop.
“At approximately 6am this morning, Plumerville city police officer Joey Cannon was shot and killed,” Mike Smith said with the Plumerville police department.
It all happened after officer Joey Cannon, a 27 year law enforcement veteran, made a traffic stop on a stolen truck on highway 64 in Conway county.
“A Conway County deputy pulled up for backup, Cannon was approaching the suspects vehicle when a shot was fired from the vehicle. Another male jumped from the passenger side and the vehicle sped off. A Conway County deputy took that suspect into custody,” Smith said.
The second man that drove off in the truck was later arrested in Faulkner County.
William Moore lives close to the scene and actually heard the gunshot Friday morning. He didn’t find out until later that an officer lost his life.
“That really caught me by surprise. There really isn’t that much violence in this area,” Moore said.
The investigation is still underway. And as you can imagine its tough for all involved.
Officer Cannon’s son who is a Conway County deputy also responded to the scene where his father lost his life.
“Anytime anyone gets hurt or shot senselessly it’s a rough time. We all knew Joey Cannon. There were many years in service and really dedicated his life to the service,” Smith said.
Plumerville has about 800 residents. Officer Cannon was with the Plumerville police department for 12 years. He was two weeks from retirement and the shooting happened at the end of his shift.
