WEST PLAINS — A jury was unable to decide whether to recommend the death penalty or life in prison without parole for a southeast Missouri man convicted of killing a Missouri state trooper.
The Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff reported that jurors deliberated several hours Saturday in West Plains before announcing that they couldn't reach an agreement on the penalty for 32-year-old Lance Shockley of Van Buren.
Carter County Circuit Judge David Evans will decide the penalty.
Shockley was convicted Friday of first-degree murder for killing patrol Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham Jr. outside of Graham's Van Buren home on March 20, 2005.
Prosecutors said Graham was killed because he was investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident and was focusing on Shockley as the fleeing driver.
The case was moved to West Plains from Carter County on a change of venue.