DA seeks death penalty for suspect in New Orleans police slaying
NEW ORLEANS -- Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for a man arrested in connection with the shooting death of a New Orleans police officer.
The New Orleans Advocate reports that District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro's office announced Monday that it's seeking the death penalty for 33-year-old Travis Boys. Boys has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the death of 45-year-old officer Daryle Holloway.
Police say Holloway was killed while transporting Boys to central lockup on June 20 after a domestic shooting incident at which the suspect allegedly fired a .38 caliber handgun at his wife. The district attorney's office held back the indictment out of respect to the victim's family, who held services for the fallen officer on Saturday, according to CBS affiliate WWL.
Police allege that Boys was able to secure a different weapon, a .40 caliber handgun gun, and shoot Holloway in the right side of his chest. The suspect allegedly escaped -- sparking a city-wide manhunt that lasted about 24 hours -- and ended when police spotted him boarding a bus in the Lower Ninth Ward, according to the station.
Authorities are also investigating whether the son of another New Orleans police officer played a role in harboring Boys in the escape, sources told the Advocate. Police would not comment on the probe, citing an ongoing investigation, reports WWL.
Cannizzaro has rarely sought the death penalty since taking office in 2008. Holloway killing automatically qualified as a first-degree murder under Louisiana law, because he was a police officer.
The suspect reportedly has a history of escaping from law enforcement, according to court documents obtained by WWL. A judge also ordered Monday that Boys be held without bond.