Wednesday began the sentencing hearing for a former soldier found guilty of murdering an Auburn police officer the previous day.
On Tuesday, a jury found Grady Wayne Wilkes guilty of capital murder in the 2019 shooting death of Officer William Buechner and the attempted murders of two other officers. According to news reports, jurors must now determine whether to sentence Wilkes to death or life in prison without parole.
In 2019, Buechner was shot and murdered while responding to a report of a domestic disturbance. Prosecutors claim Wilkes opened fire on officers while donning a military helmet and body armor after answering the door while wearing them.
According to WRBL, the courtroom heard Buechner’s last remarks, which were captured on his body camera after he was shot, during the trial. “Lord, please help me,” he pleaded.
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According to the station, defense attorneys argued that Wilkes is mentally ill and did not intend to murder the officer.
Wilkes was the commander of an infantry fire team or combat unit, according to a 2019 statement from an Alabama National Guard spokesman to The Associated Press.
