photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Rodney Marshall, left, clasps his hands as the jury in his double-murder trial leaves the courtroom of Judge Amy Hanley to resume deliberations on Monday, May 18, 2026. To his right are defense attorneys Jennifer Amyx and Branden Bell. Deputy District Attorney David Melton is at far right.

A defendant in a double-murder trial clasped his hands, seemingly in prayer, Monday as jurors left his presence and resumed their second day of deliberations in his trial in Douglas County District Court.

The defendant, Rodney Marshall, 55, is facing nine felony counts, including two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted capital murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer and one count of fleeing and eluding.

He was accused of shooting Shelby McCoy, 52, at 1115 Tennessee St. before riding across town on a moped, in a costume, to shoot William D. O’Brien, 43, at 325 Northwood Lane. After the July 31, 2022, shootings, police staked out Marshall’s residence in central Lawrence, and when he tried to leave the home, he led multiple officers on a chase while allegedly firing a pistol out of his window. He was eventually arrested on Kansas Highway 10 near Eudora in a dramatic showdown involving around two dozen police vehicles in the middle of the highway.

The jury of seven women and five women, plus four alternates, began hearing evidence on May 7 and listened to closing arguments on Friday, May 15. They deliberated for about four hours on Friday afternoon before breaking for the weekend.

The state, represented by prosecutors David Melton and Eve Kemple, characterized Marshall’s actions that summer four years ago as cold-blooded premeditated killings to which Marshall almost immediately confessed. The defense, represented by Jennifer Amyx and Branden Bell, characterized Marshall as a longtime drug addict who was in the throes of a delusional PCP trip both at the time of the shootings and during the confession.

Jurors have the option of finding Marshall guilty as charged, guilty of lesser-included offenses or not guilty of any or all offenses. If jurors agree on the defense of voluntary intoxication, Marshall would be relieved of the most serious charges that require premeditation and/or intent.