A Florida fugitive who police found hiding in a Georgia treehouse has been charged with murder two months after allegedly shooting a police officer in the head during a traffic stop.
That police officer, 26-year-old Jason Raynor, died on Tuesday following complications from a gunshot wound to the head, his colleagues at the Daytona Beach Police Department said.
Raynor was shot during a June 23 traffic stop by 29-year-old Othal Wallace, police said.
A day after Raynor's passing, Wallace was indicted by a Volusia County grand jury on a charge of first-degree murder, according to Fox News.
Wednesday's decision allows the state to impose the death penalty against Wallace.
Seventh Circuit State Attorney RJ Larizza had previously stated that he intended on charging Wallace with first-degree murder following Raynor's death, thus allowing the state to move forward with the death penalty, however Florida law allows for only a grand jury to make that decision.
Raynor's shooter Othal Wallace, 29, (pictured here in an undated mugshot) was arrested near Atlanta following a multi-state manhunt
Raynor had been with the Daytona Police for three years and previously served with the Port Orange Police Department
Daytona Beach Police officer Jason Raynor, 26, died on Tuesday following complications from a gunshot wound to the head
Authorities located him in a tree-house on a property near Atlanta 56 hours after the Florida shooting
'We will proceed with our solemn mission to hold Officer Jason Raynor’s murderer accountable,' Larizza wrote in a press release.
'Justice equals accountability and justice demands the death penalty.'
Following a multi-state manhunt, Wallace was arrested 56 hours after the Florida shooting, clickorlando.com reported, with authorities locating him in a tree-house on a property near Atlanta.
Wallace had rifle plates, body armor, two rifles, multiple flash-bang grenades, two handguns and several boxes of ammunition at the time of his arrest, according to the outlet.
Officials were eventually able to connect one of his handguns to the one that fatally wound Raynor.
'That 9-mm. firearm that was found in Georgia in close proximity to the defendant has been tested and the shell casings match,' Larizza said.
'The decision was not difficult,' he said of the decision to issue charges of first-degree murder, which allows for the death penalty in the state of Florida.
Pictured: Officer Raynor's body camera picked up the entire horrifying shooting
Raynor was shot during a June 23 traffic stop by 29-year-old Othal Wallace, pictured via body camera footage
'You've all seen the video. Officer Raynor was doing his job in a non-aggressive manner. He was... doing his best to do his job and ... respect to the individual to the defendant' Larizza said
Wallace (seen in another undated mugshot) could face death penalty after grand jury indicted the career criminal on murder charges
Larizza cited Raynor's damning police body camera footage as a reason to impose capital punishment
'You all have seen the video. Officer Raynor was doing his job in a very non-aggressive manner. He was doing his best to do his job and at the same time show respect to the individual to the defendant.'
He added that Wallace had ties to violent 'gangs' and Black Nationalist groups, all of which further contributed to the decision for the state to pursue the death penalty, Fox 35 Orlando reports.
'Those folks were all affiliated and are a part of our analysis as we move forward with the aggravator regarding the gang activity,' he said.
Raynor had been with the Daytona Police for three years and previously served with the Port Orange Police Department.
In a statement, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said Raynor died surrounded by family.
In a statement, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said Raynor died surrounded by family
Wallace (pictured in an undated mugshot) had ties to violent 'gangs' and Black Nationalist groups, said Seventh Circuit State Attorney R.J. Larizza
A GoFundMe set up for the family has received over 5,000 donations, raising over $386,000.
Raynor's family had remained hopeful he would recover after a surgery last week and asked for prayers.
'We ask for the continued prayers and thoughts and thank those of you who have shown support in so many ways,' they said in a statement prior to Raynor's passing.
Meanwhile, Chief Young said that the shooting was 'heartbreaking' for the department, Clickorlando.com reported.
'I'm extremely heartbroken,' Young said. 'We work extremely hard to try to change the narrative so that we do not have the issues that you see in other areas of the country as it pertains to law enforcement and the communities that we serve.'
'I want to assure my residents, the residents of this city, that even though we are hurt, and even though we are heartbroken, if you need us, we will be there,' Young added.
