Death sentence to be sought in fatal shooting of Missouri police officer
Prosecutors filed notice Wednesday that they intend to seek a death sentence for accused killer of a Clinton, Mo., police officer.
Ian James McCarthy, 39, of Clinton, is charged with first-degree murder in the killing last August of Officer Gary Michael.
Michael was fatally shot during a traffic stop.
Henry County Prosecutor Richard Shields filed the death notice Wednesday, according to Henry County Circuit Court records.
The notice cited McCarthy’s history of violent crimes, his alleged targeting of a police officer who was performing his duties and because the crime was “wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman.”
McCarthy was convicted of brandishing a knife during the 1998 robbery of a woman in New Hampshire, according to the court document.
In 2002, he was convicted of first-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, also in New Hampshire.
Tony Rizzo: 816-234-4435, @trizzkc
This story was originally published February 7, 2018 at 11:48 AM with the headline "Death sentence to be sought in fatal shooting of Missouri police officer."