Keona Holley Murder Trial: Jury selected as suspect faces charges in death of Baltimore officer

BALTIMORE -- The murder trial for one of the two men charged in the 2021 deadly shooting of Baltimore Police Officer Keona Holley started Monday.

Elliot Knox, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and firearms offenses.

Related: Man charged in ambush, murder of Baltimore Officer Keona Holley found competent to stand trial

The jury was selected in less than four hours Monday, and was questioned on any potential biases, like knowing Knox or having a personal connection to law enforcement.

Opening arguments are set to begin Tuesday morning.

Holley was ambushed and shot while sitting in her patrol car in Curtis Bay. The mother of four was working overtime when she was shot.  

Holley was shot several times, including at least once in the head, according to charging documents.

She died a week later at the hospital, just a few days short of Christmas.

"My sister has always been hardworking, loving, a determined person," said Holley's sister, Lawanda Sykes, at a vigil in Holley's honor in Jan. 2023.

Police used cameras and license plate readers to connect two men to the crime: Knox and Travon Shaw, 34.

Knox is also standing trial for charges in the death of Justin Johnson, who was shot and killed around an hour and a half after Holley was shot.

Knox, according to police, told investigators he was merely present when the shootings happened.

An advocate for socio-economic change and police reform, Holley's death rattled the community. Her death was mourned statewide and thousands attended her funeral.

One of those people who went to pay their respects at the funeral, Jamie Larounis, told WJZ at the time, "When you lose someone like that, it's just a loss for the city because you can't replace that type of person. They're irreplaceable."

Holley was described as a devoted and driven officer.

A jury convicted Shaw in Johnson's death earlier in the fall and he's scheduled for sentencing next month for that.

He still has to stand trial for Holley's death.