Two charged over East Cape shooting return to court June 10

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Two Illinois men charged in connection with the late April shooting death of an Oklahoma City man at an East Cape Girardeau strip club will both appear in court again June 10.

Authorities allege Julius Hackney was shot and killed by 31-year-old Brandon Lowe of Cairo, Ill., around 3 a.m. April 30 at the Pony. He has since been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, said Tyler Edmonds, the special prosecutor in the case.

"The original charge information only had one count," he said. "We filed an additional two based on different legal theories as to the criminal act."

Edmonds, the Union County state's attorney, was appointed special prosecutor by Alexander County State's Attorney Jeff Farris almost immediately following Hackney's death.

Farris said Tuesday there was a conflict of interest in the case but wouldn't elaborate.

"It's one that had to happen," he said. "You have to not only avoid impropriety, you have to avoid the appearance of impropriety."

Brandon Lowe's June 10 court date is a preliminary hearing. Edmonds said the hearing might be continued to a new date.

Brandon Lowe's brother, Bryant Lowe, is charged with one count of obstructing justice. Edmonds alleged he provided false information to authorities at the time of the shooting. Bryant Lowe waived a preliminary hearing May 26 and has a pretrial hearing June 10. Jury trial is set to begin Aug. 16 in Alexander County.

ehevern@semissourian.com

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