TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — The defendant in a Pierce County murder trial threw an object toward prosecutors as the judge confirmed the man’s guilty verdict, prompting police to tackle and use a stun gun on him.
Andrew Pointer was convicted Monday by a jury in Superior Court of first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm in the Aug. 4, 2019, shooting of 38-year-old Lawrence Jeffries. J
udge James Orlando was polling the jury for verdict confirmation when Pointer grabbed and hurled the object. County deputies used a stun gun on Pointer as about eight of them detained and removed him from the courtroom.
During the five-week trial, Pointer argued he shot Jeffries in self defense.