A Madison County circuit judge will not delay the trial of a man accused of killing a Huntsville police officer in 2019.

Circuit Judge Chris Comer today denied a motion to continue the trial of LaJeromeny Brown, 45, the man accused of shooting and killing Huntsville police Officer Billy Fred Clardy III.

Comer also set a status conference for Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. prior to the capital murder trial, currently set for Oct. 16.

Attorneys for Brown in June had argued to delay the trial because of the March 28, 2023 fatal shooting of Officer Garrett Crumby, 36, who died from wounds received at an apartment complex on the 4600 block of Governors House Drive. Officer Albert Morin, 34, who was also wounded, returned to duty this week.

In court documents, Brown’s attorneys contended that the case was “likely to continue to receive extensive publicity,” and a continuance would allow the “media frenzy” to die down and the court to pick a jury “not unduly influenced.”

Clardy and several other police officers were conducting a drug operation to buy 100 pounds of marijuana from Brown at a home on Levert Street in northeast Huntsville, according to the authorities and previous court testimony.

During a court hearing, Huntsville police Investigator Chris Hines testified that Clardy and another officer were waiting inside the home when Brown showed up with a suitcase and other bags. When Brown opened the front door, Clardy moved in to arrest him, the investigator testified. Hines told the court that no one in the house spoke before Brown fired eight shots — two of them hit Clardy — from a modified 9mm Glock.

Police captured Brown about 100 yards from the house. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.