Christopher Cope Avoids the Death Penalty

Christopher Cope, the 26-year-old man who was found guilty this week in the 2010 slaying of Shreveport Police Sergeant Tim Prunty, will not be sentenced to death. A jury informed Caddo District Court Judge Mike Pitman on Friday afteroon that they had reached an irresolvable 7-5 deadlock.

Judge Pitman declared a mistrial after jurors unanimously agreed they would be unable to break the deadlock.

The decision officially rules out the possibility of Cope receiving the death penalty for his crime. Cope is scheduled to return to court on November 8 for sentencing, one that will likely land him in prison for life.

Christopher Cope was found guilty of first-degree murder this week by a jury that took just over one hour to reach its verdict.