Prosecutors to seek death penalty in slayings
RUTLEDGE, Tenn. (AP) – Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty if a former police officer accused of killing two people during a drugstore robbery is convicted.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel (http://bit.ly/188JbFA) reports Grainger County prosecutors made the announcement Tuesday as 37-year-old Jason Bryan Holt was arraigned.
Holt is charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, attempted murder, especially aggravated robbery, especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault and possession of a gun during a felony.
The charges stem from the May 23 holdup of a Bean Station pharmacy that left owner Stephen Lovell and customer Alexander Sommerville dead. Two other pharmacy employees who were shot survived.
Holt had worked as a Bean Station police officer and as a Grainger County deputy. He was placed on medical leave in 2004.
