The man involved in a shooting with two law enforcement officers in February was read the charges against him and appointed a lawyer late Tuesday afternoon during a brief appearance in Bladen County Superior Court.
Dennis Windell Marshall, 29, was indicted Monday by a grand jury on two counts of attempted first degree murder and one count of assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm. He was brought from Raleigh’s Central Prison to Elizabethtown on Tuesday to be served the indictments and read the charges. Superior Court Judge Beecher R. Gray appointed Danny Britt of Lumberton as Marshall’s lawyer.
At the hearing, both of Marshall’s hands were heavily bandaged and he was not able to write. A deputy had to fill out paperwork for him. Marshall asked Gray why he faced attempted murder charges when he didn’t shoot at the officers. Gray told Marshall that his lawyer, Britt, would be in contact and can discuss the case with him.
Marshall is being held in Raleigh for safekeeping and to receive treatment from injuries received during the Feb. 13 incident. Bladen County Sheriff James McVicker said Deputy David Schmale and Elizabethtown Police Officer Blake Bryan returned fire after Marshall shot at the lawmen during a traffic stop about 1 a.m in downtown Elizabethtown.
Marshall’s bond is $1.5 million.
The shooting is being investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation, which is common practice in officer-involved shootings. The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office found in its own investigation that both officers acted properly.
Marshall was hospitilized after being shot during what began as a routine traffic stop in downtown Elizabethtown about 1 a.m. on Feb. 13, the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office has said.
According to McVicker, Schmale initiated the stop near the intersection of Poplar Street and King Street after observing Marshall run two traffic lights.
During the stop, McVicker said, it was learned the driver was wanted for failing to appear on a possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana). When Marshall was searched, officers found a small bag of a controlled substance.
“At that point, a struggle ensued and (Marshall) made it back to the door of his vehicle and retrieved a handgun. (Schmale) saw the weapon and told (Blake), who had just arrived, that the driver had a gun. (Marshall) then fired a shot at (Blake) at which time both officers returned fire,” McVicker said.
Marshall was transported to Bladen County Hospital and later moved to New Hanover Memorial Hospital in Wilmington where he underwent surgery.
About Author
