NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — The video attached to this story is from a previous, related report.
The accused killer of Nassua County Deputy Joshua Moyers is expected to plead guilty to first-degree murder Friday, sources tell First Coast News.
Patrick McDowell, who was arrested after a 5-day manhunt in 2021, faces the death penalty in this case.
He is not being offered a plea deal. A guilty plea will allow his case to move right to the penalty phase.
A jury will decide if McDowell gets life in prison or will be put to death.
Moyers was shot at the age of 29 on Sept. 24, 2021. He succumbed to his injuries on Sept. 26.
McDowell allegedly shot Moyers during a traffic stop in the area of State Road 200 and Sandy Foard Road in Hilliard. Police said he shot Moyers twice, in the face and in the back.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers from multiple agencies across Florida and Georgia assisted in bringing McDowell in.
On Sept. 28, McDowell gave himself up to police.
"We continued searching overnight and got leads on where he might be and where someone may pick him up," Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said during a news conference where he officially announced the arrest.
Based off of tips they received, Leeper said officers gathered at the ballpark in Callahan near the bathrooms and concession stand area. That's where they heard McDowell.
"He called out that he wanted to give himself up," Leeper said. "He came out of the bathroom and we had him get down on the ground and crawl. He crawled like a baby. Like the coward he is."
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office SWAT team shouted orders to McDowell and when he didn't comply, the released a K-9.
"He didn’t fully cooperate. They unleased one of their dogs and it attacked him on the arm so they can get him in handcuffs," Leeper said.
Leeper said police used Moyers' handcuffs to arrest McDowell.
Police documents detail deputies' reactions to helped apprehend him.
"While walking the suspect, I stated, 'He was my friend,'" one deputy wrote.
READ MORE: Remembering Josh Moyers
