Jury deliberating in Cope trial - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & Sports

The jury is now deliberating in the trial of the man accused of gunning down a Shreveport police sergeant outside a southwest Shreveport convenience store in October 2010.

26-year-old Christopher Brian Cope is accused of first degree murder in the death of Sgt. Timothy Prunty. Sgt. Prunty was shot while standing outside of the Circle K in the 3300 block of Bert Kouns on October 24, 2010.

In his closing arguments Tuesday, Prosecutor Dale Cox said Cope meant to kill Prunty.

Cox cited several reasons in support of his case, including that Cope had a fully loaded gun and that he shot every bullet. Cox added that Cope continued to shoot at Prunty after Prunty had fallen to the ground.

Cox also told jurors that Cope meant to kill more than one person, pointing his firearm at the Circle K convenience store clerk who was standing next to Prunty. Prunty told her to run.

Cox said of Prunty's order, "His last act was to save someone else and to not save himself."

Meanwhile, Cope defense attorney Brian Whitaker told the jury to consider all the evidence before them.

Whitaker raised several questions about the medical care Prunty received on the night he was shot. Prunty bled to death, according to a coroner's autopsy.

For these reasons, Whitaker argued that the crime does not rise to the level of first-degree murder and that it would not meet the level of capital punishment, which is what Cope would face if he is found guilty.

The jury received deliberation instructions at 6:32 p.m.

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