Man accused of killing Nassau County deputy to appear for arraignment

2 years ago 165

Patrick McDowell charged with first-degree execution of instrumentality enforcement officer

Nassau County Sheriff's Office booking photograph of Patrick McDowell

The antheral accused of killing Nassau County Deputy Joshua Moyers during a postulation halt past month volition look via video league Thursday greeting for arraignment connected a first-degree execution charge.

He besides faces a complaint of injuring a constabulary canine and 8 counts of aggravated battle connected a instrumentality enforcement officer.

A justice said Thursday greeting that McDowell would look astir 11 a.m.

Patrick McDowell was indicted by a expansive assemblage earlier this period connected a complaint of first-degree execution of a instrumentality enforcement officer. He was arrested connected the 5th time of a manhunt successful occidental Nassau County and was treated for gunshot wounds and canine bites astatine UF Health Jacksonville earlier being booked into jail.

He is being held without enslaved successful Duval County.

When she announced the indictment this month, State Attorney Melissa Nelson said the authorities intends to question the decease punishment if McDowell is convicted.

Criminal defence lawyer and erstwhile authoritative John Rockwell told News4Jax it takes a unanimous assemblage determination to enactment idiosyncratic to decease and past the justice has to agree.

Even if the assemblage and justice are convinced that aggravating circumstances warrant the decease penalty, the defence tin contiguous mitigating circumstances. In McDowell’s case, it could beryllium McDowell’s past arsenic a warfare veteran. His begetter said helium suffered from PTSD and utilized drugs.

“It truly depends connected however overmuch value the assemblage gives that mitigation and however overmuch of that mitigation really comes out,” Rockwell said. “This, to me, is simply a much egregious case, of course, involving the decease of Deputy Moyers.”

Before pulling implicit for Moyers connected Sandy Ford Road connected Sept. 24, McDowell told a rider successful his van: “It’s either him oregon me.”

Moyers was changeable doubly with a handgun. The 29-year-old engaged to beryllium joined died of his injuries 2 days later.

According to Sheriff Bill Leeper, McDowell’s gunshot wounds were suffered aboriginal successful the manhunt. At 1 constituent helium was recovered by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office K-9 and changeable the canine -- which survived. Leeper said erstwhile McDowell fired connected the K-9 with a rifle, deputies returned occurrence and aboriginal learned they had wounded McDowell.

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