ST. LOUIS — Jury selection began Friday for the trial of a man accused of killing former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Captain David Dorn during unrest in the summer of 2020, following George Floyd’s killing.
The retired St. Louis police captain was shot and killed June 2, 2020, as he tried to stop looters from destroying a pawn shop downtown during the unrest.
Twenty-six-year-old Stephan Cannon is charged with first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, robbery, burglary, stealing and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Police said Cannon can be seen on surveillance cameras firing a gun at Dorn.
Dorn served with the St. Louis police department for almost 40 years, then worked nearly six years as the chief of the Moline Acres.
He was working as a security guard at the pawn shop where he was shot in June 2020.
Jury selection process
The jury selection began at 9 a.m. Friday.
Jacob Long is the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court Chief Communications Officer and he says the normal pool sizes are about 42 people, which are typically done in one sitting.
For this case, the court summoned 72 individuals to appear for jury duty. Jury selection was scheduled for two phases.
The first batch of approximately 40 potential jurors was questioned from morning to lunch time. The second batch of approximately 30 or so potential jurors was dismissed.
"We have to break it up for two reasons: Publicity and nature of the case makes it harder to get jurors," Long said. "They simply can’t do 72 people in one room with social distancing, so logically it’s harder."
The court chose a panel of 12 jurors and two alternates shortly after 2 p.m.
Jurors will be sworn in Monday morning before opening statements.
Media won't have cameras in the courtroom and they're not allowed during the trial, but 5 on Your Side will have a reporter in court each day.
Dorn's daughters, Lisa and Debra Dorn told 5 On Your Side's Robert Townsend, "We are patiently waiting for justice for our dad. We will be at the trial every day."
For now, his wife and family are hesitant to speak because of the concern of jeopardizing the case.
Dedications
After his death, Dorn was recognized on a national level, posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor Citizen Award, given to Americans who risk their lives to help others.
A stretch of Interstate 70 is now known as the "David Dorn Memorial Highway."
A portion of St. Charles Rock Road is also named in honor of Dorn.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department also remembered him in a ceremony following his death.
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