No decision on death penalty for cop killer's accused driver
TACOMA, Wash. - Prosecutors have been given some extra time to decide whether to seek the death penalty against the man accused of driving Maurice Clemmons after he killed four Lakewood police officers last year.
The previous deadline for a decision on the death penalty was Nov. 15. But on Friday a judge gave Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist until Dec. 31 to decide.
The accused getaway driver, Darcus Allen, faces four counts of aggravated first-degree murder for his alleged part in the crime. Allen also faces charges of rendering criminal assistance.
There are two possible sentences for aggravated murder: life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. But Lindquist said his office needs more time to review evidence before deciding whether to seek the death penalty.
Investigators say Allen drove Clemmons to a car wash across the street from the Parkland coffee shop where the officers were ambushed on Nov. 29. Witnesses told investigators that Clemmons parked the truck in a car wash stall and pretended to clean the car, but never turned the hose on.
Detectives say Clemmons returned to the truck a short time with a gunshot wound.
Court documents say Allen told detectives after the shooting that he stopped at an intersection and bailed out of the truck, telling Clemmons he "wants no part of this."
But charging documents filed Tuesday say investigators found no evidence Allen ever bailed out of the truck or that a bleeding Clemmons was ever in the driver's seat.
Allen knew Clemmons from when they served time together in an Arkansas prison, court documents say, and was living with Clemmons' sister in Tacoma.
On Thanksgiving, just three days prior to the murders, prosecutors say Allen was present as Clemmons told everyone in the room he intended to murder police officers.
Detectives say Allen didn't object to Clemmons' threats.
The previous deadline for a decision on the death penalty was Nov. 15. But on Friday a judge gave Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist until Dec. 31 to decide.
The accused getaway driver, Darcus Allen, faces four counts of aggravated first-degree murder for his alleged part in the crime. Allen also faces charges of rendering criminal assistance.
There are two possible sentences for aggravated murder: life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. But Lindquist said his office needs more time to review evidence before deciding whether to seek the death penalty.
Investigators say Allen drove Clemmons to a car wash across the street from the Parkland coffee shop where the officers were ambushed on Nov. 29. Witnesses told investigators that Clemmons parked the truck in a car wash stall and pretended to clean the car, but never turned the hose on.
Detectives say Clemmons returned to the truck a short time with a gunshot wound.
Court documents say Allen told detectives after the shooting that he stopped at an intersection and bailed out of the truck, telling Clemmons he "wants no part of this."
But charging documents filed Tuesday say investigators found no evidence Allen ever bailed out of the truck or that a bleeding Clemmons was ever in the driver's seat.
Allen knew Clemmons from when they served time together in an Arkansas prison, court documents say, and was living with Clemmons' sister in Tacoma.
On Thanksgiving, just three days prior to the murders, prosecutors say Allen was present as Clemmons told everyone in the room he intended to murder police officers.
Detectives say Allen didn't object to Clemmons' threats.
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