Lard found guilty in Trumann officer's death

This frame grab from video courtesy of KAIT8-TV shows Trumann officer Jonathan Schmidt in June 2010, in Trumann, Ark. Trumann Police Chief Tony Rusher said the 30-year-old officer was shot and killed during a traffic stop Tuesday, April 12, 2011.
This frame grab from video courtesy of KAIT8-TV shows Trumann officer Jonathan Schmidt in June 2010, in Trumann, Ark. Trumann Police Chief Tony Rusher said the 30-year-old officer was shot and killed during a traffic stop Tuesday, April 12, 2011.

Jerry Lard of Trumann has been found guilty of capital murder for the shooting death of a Trumann police officer.

The jury in Lard's nearly two-week trial, which was moved from Poinsett County to the Greene County Circuit Court, found him guilty of all charges shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday.

Lard, 38, was charged in the fatal shooting of Trumann police officer Jonathan Schmidt during a April 12, 2011, traffic stop in the Poinsett County town. He was also found guilty for attempted capital murder and possession of methamphetamine.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Lard's sentencing will begin at 9 a.m. Friday.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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