Asher man to stand trial in 18-year-old's death, judge rules

A former East Central University student accused of shooting and killing another student for no apparent reason will stand trial, a judge in Pottawatomie County ruled Thursday.
by Andrew Knittle Modified: April 11, 2013 at 9:33 pm •  Published: April 12, 2013

— Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against a former East Central University freshman accused of shooting a fellow student three times in the head.

Jerrod Murray, known for walking around the Ada campus and his hometown of Asher in an all-black suit, waived his preliminary hearing Thursday in Pottawatomie County District Court. He will stand trial in the Dec. 6 shooting death of Generro Sanchez, 18.

In a bill of particulars filed Thursday, District Attorney Richard Smothermon wrote that the killing is “especially heinous, atrocious and cruel” and that Murray deserves to die.

“While Generro Sanchez was driving and begging Jerrod Murray not to take his life, the defendant shot Generro Sanchez twice in the head,” Smothermon wrote in the document. “The vehicle left the roadway crashing into a tree, at which time Jerrod Murray went around to the driver's side of the vehicle, pulled the victim ... out of the vehicle and onto the ground and shot (him) a third time in the head.”

“Jerrod Murray then pushed the victim's body down into a ditch, covering him with leaves and sticks and leaving Generro Sanchez to languish and die.”

Murray, 18, was escorted to and from the courthouse in Shawnee under unusually heavy guard. Authorities would not say why so many guards were used to transport Murray, only that the large numbers would be standard for the defendant in any future court appearances.

As he was led into the courthouse by several guards, Murray politely said, “No ma'am,” when a TV reporter asked him if he had anything to say.

He kept his eyes to the ground and his expression unchanged.

Murray had a light beard and a ponytail. He was completely shackled.

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by Andrew Knittle
Investigative Reporter
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