A New Madrid man charged after a Highway Patrolman was shot during a vehicle stop in March goes to trial this summer. 43-year-old Tonya Brown, 24-year-old Jermaine Dennis, and 19-year-old Maurice Ely all pled not guilty to 2nd-degree murder before Judge Fred Copeland. The three are charged in connection with a traffic stop March 10th on I-55 near Matthews. Brown was driving a car stopped for following too closely. As troopers approached the vehicle, a passenger in the front seat fired at the officers. The patrolmen returned fire, killing the passenger. One of the officers suffered a gunshot wound to the neck. Dennis and Ely were passengers. Brown goes to trial October 25th before Judge Scott Horman in Scott County. Dennis wants a change of venue. Ely will be back before Judge Copeland July 10th.
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