PUBLIC SAFETY

Suspect in officer Perry Renn slaying appears in court

Jill Disis
jill.disis@indystar.com
Marion County sheriff's deputies move Major Davis Jr. into court in a wheelchair. Davis is accused in the July 5 killing Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Perry Renn. The Marion County prosecutor's office is seeking the death penalty.

The man suspected of killing an Indianapolis police officer July 5 was rolled into court in a wheelchair Tuesday morning.

Major Davis Jr., 25, sat in the chair in handcuffs as Marion Superior Court Judge Marc Rothenberg asked Davis if he understood the murder charge filed against him.

Davis, who spent the past week at Eskenazi Hospital in critical condition after a gunbattle involving IMPD patrolman Perry Renn, told the judge he understood.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Davis fired rounds from an assault rifle at Renn, who was responding to a 911 call that shots had been fired at the intersection of East 34th Street and Forest Manor Avenue on July 5 at about 9:20 p.m. Two other officers also responded to the call.

Renn was killed. Davis was critically injured and later underwent surgery. He is now being held in the Marion County Jail.

Authorities believe Davis was agitated before police arrived. According to one witness, Davis appeared to flag down another Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer who arrived at the scene before Renn.

Members of Davis' family and several IMPD officers this morning packed the courtroom where Davis appeared. Davis was appointed a public defender, and Rothenberg entered an initial plea of not guilty on his behalf.

Davis' family declined to comment after leaving the courtroom.

Davis' next pre-trial conference hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

Davis faces a sentence of 45 to 65 years in prison if convicted. Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry is seeking a sentence enhancement of up to 20 years because a firearm was used in the crime.

Curry also can decide to seek the death penalty or life without parole.

Call Star reporter Jill Disis at (317) 444-6137. Follow her on Twitter: @jdisis.