photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Rodney Ericson Marshall is pictured Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, in Douglas County District Court. His attorneys requested to withdraw from his case after Marshall allegedly instigated a physical altercation during a meeting with them.

A Lawrence man accused of murdering two people last summer was appointed new defense attorneys Thursday in Douglas County District Court after one of his previous attorneys said that the man had started a physical altercation with him.

Rodney Ericson Marshall, 51, is facing two counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer and one count of attempted murder of a civilian, according to charging documents.

As the Journal-World has reported, Marshall is accused of killing William D. O’Brien, 43, of Lawrence, and Shelby McCoy, 52, of Lawrence, on July 31, 2022, at separate locations, before leading police on a lengthy chase, during which he allegedly shot at them.

In August, Judge Blake Glover appointed Marshall two defense attorneys, Michael Clarke and Carol Cline. According to motions to withdraw filed by Cline and Clarke, the attorneys were meeting with Marshall on Jan. 9 at the Douglas County Jail when Marshall became upset and “fired” Cline. Clarke said that Marshall then “instigated a physical altercation with me.”

Additional details about the altercation were not available. Both attorneys have declined to comment on the matter, and no charges have been filed related to the physical altercation.

Judge Amy Hanley on Thursday appointed defense attorneys Hatem Chahine and Branden Smith to represent Marshall, who is being held on a $1.5 million bond. Marshall is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 16 for a status conference.