DINWIDDIE COUNTY—The Chesterfield County man charged in the shooting death of a Virginia state trooper had his court case continued until late June during a Monday appearance.
Russell E. Brown, 28, of Chesterfield County faces capital murder charges after authorities say he gunned down a state trooper in Dinwiddie County on March 7.
Master Trooper Junius A. Walker, a 40-year veteran of the Virginia State Police, died from multiple gunshot wounds after the incident in Dinwiddie County, just south of Dewitt.
Court papers show the man charged in the shooting death of a Virginia state trooper told investigators God made him do it.
Brown also faces two firearms counts and an attempted capital murder charge for allegedly shooting at another trooper.
According to State Police, Master Trooper Junius A. Walker pulled up next to a sedan which was stopped on the side of Interstate 85 South just after 1 p.m. The man in the sedan, believed to be Brown, opened fire on Walker. Walker's patrol car ran off of the side of the road and came to rest 30 feet from the lanes of travel.
A responding trooper witnessed the suspect standing outside of Walker's patrol car, State Police officials said. The two exchanged gunfire before the suspect fled into the woods.
It remains unclear why the suspect was pulled off onto the side of the road or why he opened fire.
An estimated crowd of 3,000 attended memorial services for Master Trooper Junius A. Walker at the Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Petersburg. Among the attendees was Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, as well as law enforcement representatives from as far away as California.
Trooper Walker leaves behind a wife and two daughters.
In a preliminary court hearing Monday, Brown's case was continued until June 24. A Dinwiddie County prosecutor says she will seek the death penalty against him.
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Copyright 2013 by Young Broadcasting of Richmond
