PHOENIX, AZ (July 27, 2012) – A Maricopa County Grand Jury has charged Cordell Lamar Jude (D.O.B. 1/10/90) with one count of 2nd degree murder for the April 2012 shooting death of Daniel Adkins. Jude was served with the indictment this morning. He will be arraigned on the murder charge at a hearing set for August 9th at 8:30am.
“Our decision to prosecute this case is based on a thorough review of the evidence gathered during an extensive investigation by our law enforcement partners, and after a separate and careful analysis of the defendant’s assertion of self-defense,” said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “After engaging in this deliberative process, we are confident in moving forward with our efforts to hold this defendant accountable for his actions,” he added.
At around 7:45pm on April 3rd, 2012, Daniel Adkins was walking with his dog through a parking lot of a Taco Bell located near 51st Avenue and Baseline Road. Cordell Jude was driving his vehicle in the restaurant’s drive-through lane when Adkins stepped in front of the car, forcing Jude to slam on his breaks to avoid hitting him. Adkins began yelling at Jude and struck the vehicle with his hand or an unknown object, which Jude later said he believed was a bat or similar object. Jude told police that Adkins was preparing to take another swing at him, causing him to fear for his life. Jude then shot Adkins once with a gun he was carrying in his car, and then immediately called police. No bat or object of similar size was found at the scene.
The indictment announced today is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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