DA to seek death penalty against accused killer of SAPD Det. Marconi

Otis McKane, 32, charged in 2016 ambush killing outside police headquarters

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood confirmed Friday that he will seek the death penalty in the murder trial of the man accused of killing a veteran San Antonio Police Department detective outside of public safety headquarters in late 2016.

As recently as last November, which marked the one year anniversary of Detective Ben Marconi's death, LaHood said he was reviewing the case to determine whether or not to pursue the death penalty against Otis McKane, 32.

"What I didn't want to do is react to any highly emotional situation, obviously this impacted our community, and respond appropriately. We handle every potential death penalty case the same way. I set up a process and wanted to go through that process and not rush to judgment," LaHood said Friday afternoon.

RELATED: Charged in killing SAPD detective, Otis McKane, Jr., speaks from jail; refuses to talk about murder 

McKane is accused of shooting Marconi twice in the head on Nov. 20, 2016, as the detective worked on paperwork inside a patrol cruiser downtown.

Surveillance video showed a car driven by McKane circle Marconi's patrol unit twice before the ambush killing, investigators previously said.

McKane was arrested in East Bexar County the following day after a massive manhunt.

RELATED: Man indicted in fatal shooting of SAPD detective 

He was indicted for capital murder of a police officer in February 2017, and remains in custody at the Bexar County Jail.

McKane is tentatively scheduled to go to trial Feb. 28.

However, that date in all likelihood will be pushed back since it is now a death penalty case.

RELATED: Sale of rims, tires, lead police to suspected killer of SAPD Detective Benjamin Marconi

LaHood said Friday that he intends to be on the team of prosecutors that tries the case.

Marconi, 50, from Floresville, was a 20-year veteran of SAPD and a father of two.


About the Author:

Emmy-award winning reporter Dillon Collier joined KSAT Investigates in September 2016. Dillon's investigative stories air weeknights on the Nightbeat and on the Six O'Clock News. Dillon is a two-time Houston Press Club Journalist of the Year and a Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Reporter of the Year.