Prosecutors Seek Death for Tampa Cop Killer
Updates in the case this week included Morris' not-guilty plea, the charging of his accomplice who is trying to retrieve her vehicle from forfeiture, and the FBI's $20,000 reward for the murder weapon.
The man accused of killing two Tampa police officers will face the death penalty, and his accomplice has also been indicted by a federal grand jury.
Dontae Morris, shot and killed Tampa PD officers Jeffrey Kocab and David Curtis on June 29, after the officers attempted to take him into custody on an outstanding warrant.
Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Dontae Morris, who is a suspect in three additional homicides.
The driver of the vehicle pulled over by the two officers, 22-year-old Cortnee Brantley, was faces the charge of "misprison of felony," a felony for concealing Morris' status as a felon posessing a firearm, ABC News reports.
Brantley, under house arrest awaiting trial, is appealing Tampa PD's seizure of her white Toyota that carried her and Morris on the day of the shooting. The department has filed an asset forfeiture civil suit to confiscate the now-impounded vehicle.
Also, the FBI has offered a $20,000 reward for the recovery of the handgun Morris used to kill the two officers. The gun is suspected of being used in at least one of the other murders. Morris, who has been charged in two of the other three, has pleaded not guilty.
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