Jury selection in Carter County begins in trial of man accused of highway patrol killing

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Jury selection began Wednesday morning in Carter County in the trial of the Van Buren man accused of gunning down a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper in his driveway.

Carter County Circuit Clerk Cathy Duncan Terry said potential jurors would be coming in to the courthouse today and Friday, as well as morning session Saturday if needed.

Once a jury is selected, it will be taken to Howell County, where the trial will be held in West Plains. Opening arguments are slated to begin there at 1 p.m. Monday.

After the jurors are sworn in, they will be sequestered for the duration of the trial, since the state is seeking the death penalty.

The jurors will be hearing testimony in the case against Shockley, who is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the death of Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham Jr. and leaving the scene of an accident. If convicted of the murder charge, the 32-year-old could be sentenced to death.

A 12-year veteran of the highway patrol, Graham was found dead March 20, 2005, outside his Van Buren residence off of 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 work 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 with leaving the scene of an accident, and he became considered a person of interest in Graham's death.

Murder charges were filed against Shockley on March 29, 2005.