UPDATE: Suspect’s family thinks trooper shooting suspect ‘snapped’
DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) -- The Chesterfield man accused of shooting and killing Master Trooper Junius "J.A." Walker along I-85 Thursday appeared before a judge inside the Dinwiddie County Courthouse Friday morning.
Russell Brown, 28, wore a black and white striped jail suit and shackles as he was arraigned on four charges in front of Judge Valentine Southall.
When Brown learned he was being charged with the capital offense of murdering a police officer, Brown said that he was "fine with being executed" and even told the judge, "Y'all gonna kill me anyway."
The accused murderer also began arguing with the judge as he was being appointed an attorney.
In addition to the charge of capital murder of a police officer, Brown was also charged with one count of attempted capital murder of a police officer -- and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Brown is scheduled to appear in court again on March 18 at 11 a.m. in order to set a preliminary hearing.
"We never know what's going to happen in these types of cases," Dinwiddie Commonwealth's Attorney Lisa Caruso said. "I couldn't contemplate what would cause someone to gun down one of our own officers. So anything he said really isn't out of bounds when it comes to what he did."
The circumstances are even more disturbing for the long-time prosecutor, who is both saddened and enraged.
"I'm seldom at a loss for words, but at this time, I am. It's just a degree of anger," Caruso said.
Caruso remembered Walker as a wonderful man -- and an exemplary trooper.
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