Jury seated for trial of Van Buren man accused of killing Missouri state trooper

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Fifteen Carter County residents were selected Thursday afternoon to serve on the jury of a Van Buren man accused of gunning down a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper in his driveway.

The jurors, who were selected at about 5 p.m., were among 200 Carter countians brought in during the two-day selection process in Lance D. Shockley's case, according to Carter County Circuit Clerk Cathy Duncan Terry.

"We picked 15 all together," with three serving as alternates, Terry said. The jury will be sequestered for the duration of the trial, since the state is seeking the death penalty.

The jurors, she said, are to report to Carter County on Monday, "then we are going to take them over to Howell County. We'll begin court proceedings at 1 (p.m.)" with opening arguments.

The jurors will be hearing testimony in the case against Shockley, who is charged with the Class A felony of first-degree murder and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action in connection with the death of Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham Jr. and the Class D felony of leaving the scene of an accident.

A 12-year veteran of the Highway Patrol, Graham was found dead March 20, 2005, outside his Van Buren residence, located off Route M, about three miles north of U.S. 60. The 37-year-old was still in uniform and had just arrived home after completing his tour of duty for the day.

While looking into Graham's death, investigators began retracing Graham's work activities, including the one-vehicle crash on County Road 217 that left Jeffrey R. Bayless dead. Graham initially investigated the Nov. 26, 2004, fatal crash.

Enough evidence subsequently was developed to charge Shockley, now 32, with the crime of leaving the scene of an accident and he became considered a person of interest in Graham's death.

Investigators followed numerous leads, interviewed witnesses and executed a search warrant on Shockley's property for possible evidence linking him to Graham's death before charges were filed against Shockley on March 29, 2005.