A Pennsylvania district attorney is seeking the death penalty against a man charged with fatally shooting a man whose body was found in the trunk of burned car.
The defense attorney for 18-year-old Jonta Bishop, of Hagerstown, maintains Bishop shot 36-year-old James Deneen Jr. in self-defense. The Hyndman man was shot on September 25 before his body was stuffed into the car, which was then set on fire in Londonderry Township in south-central Pennsylvania.
But Bedford County District Attorney contends Bishop's self-defense claims are refused by the fact that Deneen was shot in the back of the head.
Three other people are accused of helping Bishop dispose of the body.
A judge delayed Bishop's formal arraignment Thursday after Higgins announced he'd seek the death penalty. That's because a death penalty-qualified attorney must now represent Bishop.
