Opinion ID: 2253149
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Defendant was prosecuted and convicted for the shooting death of Officer Martin Murrin that occurred on September 12, 1984, while the officer was allegedly attempting to arrest defendant on an outstanding felony warrant. Defendant's defense at trial was that he shot the police officer in self-defense. This court's previous opinion contains a detailed statement of the evidence presented at defendant's trial. (See Salazar, 126 Ill.2d at 435-49, 129 Ill.Dec. 1, 535 N.E.2d 766.) We restate the evidence only to the extent necessary to resolve the issues presented in this appeal from the dismissal of defendant's post-conviction petition. Evidence presented at defendant's trial showed that shortly before the date of the incident, Officer Murrin had seen a flyer indicating the defendant was wanted on an outstanding felony arrest warrant and that Officer Murrin told his partner that he was going to find defendant. ( Salazar, 126 Ill.2d at 436, 129 Ill.Dec. 1, 535 N.E.2d 766.) As Officer Murrin and his partner were patrolling the vicinity in a marked police car, they passed a vehicle in which defendant was a passenger. They pursued the automobile, the car slowed, and defendant ran out of the car. Officer Murrin followed defendant on foot, with his gun drawn. See Salazar, 126 Ill.2d at 435-36, 129 Ill.Dec. 1, 535 N.E.2d 766. When defendant ran from the officer, defendant was carrying a gym bag. Witnesses testified that they saw the officer follow the defendant into an alleyway. Shortly thereafter, they heard shots fired. Officer Murrin's partner found Officer Murrin in the alley. The officer had been shot five times. William Pitts testified that he saw Officer Murrin follow the defendant and heard the officer say to defendant, Stop fighting,   . I got you. You are under arrest. ( Salazar, 126 Ill.2d at 436-37, 129 Ill.Dec. 1, 535 N.E.2d 766.) Pitts testified that he then heard gunshots. Officer Robert Brenczewski, who had interviewed witnesses following the shooting, testified at defendant's trial. Officer Brenczewski testified that when he interviewed Pitts after the incident, Pitts informed the officer that Pitts heard a type of talking which he could not make out. Salazar, 126 Ill.2d at 437, 129 Ill.Dec. 1, 535 N.E.2d 766. Defendant testified at his trial that he shot Officer Murrin in self-defense. According to his trial testimony, defendant ran into the alley and heard someone shout Freeze. Defendant stated that he looked behind him and saw Officer Murrin. Defendant continued to run because he wanted to dispose of the gun in his gym bag. Defendant testified that he ran into an alley that was a dead-end, threw the gym bag away, and raised his hands above his head. Defendant stated that Officer Murrin came up to the defendant and hit the defendant several times, causing defendant to fall to the ground. The officer then knelt on top of him and continued to hit the defendant several more times. Defendant stated that he told the officer several times, I give. I give. However, Officer Murrin continued to hit the defendant. The defendant testified that he either pushed or punched the officer and the officer reached for his revolver. Defendant stated that he also reached for Officer Murrin's weapon. Defendant testified that they continued to struggle until the defendant fell backward. Defendant stated that the gun fired repeatedly when he fell. He testified that he ran away, jumped over a fence, and threw away the officer's revolver. See Salazar, 126 Ill.2d at 448, 129 Ill.Dec. 1, 535 N.E.2d 766. Following the incident, police officers discovered defendant's gym bag near the scene. In the bag, the officers found various items including a pair of brass knuckles, a Smith and Wesson 9 millimeter semiautomatic gun, and two bullet clips. (See Salazar, 126 Ill.2d at 441, 129 Ill.Dec. 1, 535 N.E.2d 766.) Tests revealed that Officer Murrin's left hand was on or near the muzzle of a firearm when it discharged and that his right hand could have been on or near as it was discharged. ( Salazar, 126 Ill.2d at 440-41, 129 Ill.Dec. 1, 535 N.E.2d 766.) Forensic evidence indicated that the officer had suffered injuries consistent with blunt trauma including abrasions or scrapes as well as bruising on the skin. Salazar, 126 Ill.2d at 442, 129 Ill.Dec. 1, 535 N.E.2d 766. After the shooting, defendant ran from the scene to the home of the parents of Pedro Palacios, a friend of defendant, who lived nearby. Pedro testified that he encountered the defendant in the garage while defendant was putting on the clothes belonging to one of Pedro's brothers. Pedro stated at trial that he saw that defendant's face was `puffed up' on the right side and that he had a problem recognizing defendant at first. ( Salazar, 126 Ill.2d at 438, 129 Ill.Dec. 1, 535 N.E.2d 766.) Pedro also stated that defendant told them that defendant had been chased by a police officer, and that although he had tried to surrender, the officer continued to hit defendant repeatedly. Pedro testified that the defendant said that when he could no longer tolerate the beating, he reached for the officer's gun and shot the officer. The jury found defendant guilty of murder in the shooting death of Officer Murrin. The jury further determined that there was no mitigating evidence sufficient to preclude imposition of the death penalty. Defendant's conviction and sentence were affirmed on direct appeal (see Salazar, 126 Ill.2d 424, 129 Ill.Dec. 1, 535 N.E.2d 766). In his petition for post-conviction relief, defendant alleged, inter alia, that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise certain arguments during defendant's direct appeal. Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied defendant's post-conviction petition. He appeals to this court. 134 Ill.2d R. 651(a).