Suspect Lawrence Attaway's first court appearance was anything but routine. He told the judge that he did not shoot Det. Bill Weatherly at point blank range adding that Weatherly came down the path running as he approached his house to serve a warrant Thursday.
District Attorney David Waters believes he has a solid case and plans to seek the death penalty.
Attaway has been in a Warren County courtroom several times, twice pleading guilty to assaulting his mother who left the courthouse Friday crying.
Deputies say Attaway got unruly during one of his previous appearances and went after two Warren County officers.
"We tried to put handcuffs on him and had to physically wrestle him down to the floor to get handcuffs on him. We finally subdued him. He also kneed me in the groin and had charges of assaulting an officer taken out on him," said Sgt William Tabron.
What Attaway allegedly told Dep. Brian Clifton that same day will haunt the sheriff's department forever.
"On the way to the jail, he had made several remarks that he would take anyone's life that came after him. You just take it for granted. You don't think he is serious, but obviously he was," said Clifton.
Weatherly was shot while trying to deliver a warrant to Attaway. The warrant was being served in connection with the attack on the two officers.
Weatherly's family will hold visitation Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Warren County Middle school which is off of Bypass 158.
The funeral will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at the same location.
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