Jury selection in the capital murder case of Brandon T. Morris came to an abrupt halt Thursday when Morris tried to escape a Howard County courtroom, officials said.
Morris, 21, who is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of Correctional Officer Jeffery A. Wroten at Washington County Hospital in Hagerstown, leapt from his seat at the defendant?s table and pushed toward the exit, said Howard County Sheriff James Fitzgerald.
An armed sheriff?s deputy tackled him en route, and several other deputies nearby helped restrain Morris and escort him from the courtroom, Fitzgerald said.
Two sheriff?s deputies and two potential jurors suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene, Fitgerald said.
About 100 potential jurors were in the courtroom at the time, Fitzgerald said. Many hit the floor when one sheriff?s deputy yelled, “gun.”
Fitzgerald said the cry was a warning to other deputies to secure their weapons. Morris did not attempt to grab a gun, he said.
Howard County Circuit Judge Dennis Sweeney set a hearing for 10 a.m. Friday to discuss with state?s attorneys and Morris? legal team how to proceed with the case, Fitzgerald said.
Howard County State?s Attorney Tim McCrone will decide whether Morris will be charged with attempting to escape, Fitzgerald said. McCrone declined to comment about the matter as he was leaving the court Thursday evening.
Wroten, 44, was shot in the head with is own gun in January 2006 while guarding Morris? hospital room.
