Two men suspected of killing 23-year-old Daquan Dowling during a 2012 drive-by shooting that led to the closure of Route 29 are expected to go on trial later this year.
William Mitchell and Andre Romero are being tried together for the murder of Dowling, who was killed instantly after he was struck in the head by a bullet fired by the alleged shooters.
Two other men who were charged in the highway slaying, Anthony Marks and Jamar Square, accepted plea bargains to lesser charges.
They are still awaiting sentencing, according to court records, and likely won’t be sentenced until after Mitchell and Romero’s trial is over.
Square pleaded guilty for his role, which prosecutors say was supplying a .45-caliber handgun and a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver.
Marks pleaded guilty last year to two weapons counts and is expected to be sent to prison for a decade under terms of a negotiated plea deal with prosecutors. He admitted he was driving a stolen vehicle during the drive-by shooting.
Murder charges are being dismissed as part of the plea bargain.
It was not clear when Marks pleaded guilty whether his deal required him to testify at Mitchell and Romero’s trial.
Christopher Campbell, Mitchell’s attorney, said after Monday’s pretrial hearing that Marks is expected to participate in the trial. But it is unclear exactly what he will testify to and whether he will point the finger at the two men for opening fire on Dowling’s car shot Jan. 30, 2012, when gunfire erupted near the Statehouse resulting in the closure of Route 29 for several hours.
Jury selection is expected to start Sept. 30 before Judge Anthony Massi, who is presiding over the trial after it was transferred to him by Judge Robert Billmeier.
The judges are trying to fast-track some of Mercer County’s older murder trials in anticipation of bail reform, which kicks in the start of next year.
Officials are worried about how the new law, which will enable low-level offenders to be free rather than imprisoned while waiting for trial, will impact others charged with more serious crimes.
The law is intended to expedite trials for defendants charged Jan. 1, 2017, calling for them to be tried within six months after they are indicted.
But court officials are worried about how that will impact those who were incarcerated prior to the new law, which effectively will send those defendants to the back of the line as prosecutors worry about meeting deadlines for new defendants.