By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TAYLOR – A jury trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 25 for Tyress Thearndos Matthews, 37, who stands accused of shooting Taylor Police Cpl. Matthew Edwards in July 2010.
The 31-year-old police officer was killed after being hit by six gunshots at at approximately 6 a.m., July 23 at the Coppertree Apartments in the 1200 block of Pine.
Edwards and his partner, Cpl. Gregory Piche, responded to a breaking-and-entering call and encountered Matthews near the residence. Gunfire was exchanged, and Matthews allegedly fired the rounds that killed Edwards, who died soon after at a nearby hospital.
On July 8, Matthews was declared competent to stand trial. He faces life in prison if convicted on charges of first-degree murder. Additional charges include murder of a peace officer, also punishable by life in prison, and three weapons-related felonies.
Edwards is the first Taylor police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected])