The suspect on trial for shooting and killing a Huntsville police officer in 2019 confessed to the murder during testimony Thursday and apologized to his family from the witness stand.

LaJeromeny Brown, 45, said the shooting of drug task force officer Billy Clardy III occurred at what he expected to be a sale of 100 pounds of marijuana at an abandoned house on Levert Street in north Huntsville.

Brown has been charged with capital murder. If convicted, he faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole. Clardy died in an police undercover drug operation with the intent of arresting Brown.

In his testimony, Brown said he did not realize that he had shot a police officer. Brown said he was “startled” after seeing a silhouette emerge from a room off the living room where the front door entered the house. Brown said he was afraid he was going to be killed in a robbery for the drugs. He fired his handgun, then ran from the home.

Brown’s attorney Bruce Gardner asked his client if he had anything he wanted to say to Clardy’s family.

“To the Clardy family, I feel for each one of you,” Brown said. “I’m very apologetic. I’m deeply sorry. I can’t imagine what you went through.”

Several members of the Clardy family have been in the courtroom during the first two days of the trial.

Brown also apologized to his own family, which in the courtroom included his parents and children.

“If I could take it back, I would,” Brown said.

In concluding his apology, Brown again addressed the Clardy family.

“Don’t think for one second this has been forgotten (by him) and that I’m not remorseful for it,” Brown said.

Prosecutors will cross examine Brown Thursday afternoon.

Earlier Thursday, Madison County prosecutors rested their case against Brown.

A medical examiner from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, Dr. Valerie Green, testified that Clardy was shot three times. Only one of the wounds was fatal, she said, with the bullet striking Clardy in the heart.