Trial Scheduled To Begin For Alleged Killer Of Metra Police Officer
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Nine years after Metra Police Officer Thomas Cook was gunned down at a train station in Harvey, his accused killer was set to go on trial this week.
Cook, a 43-year-old father of two, was sitting in his squad car at the 147th Street station in Harvey in late September 2006, when he was shot in the head at point-blank range.
Prosecutors have said the killers were after Cook's service weapon, a .357-caliber handgun, after losing two weapons in a shootout with a Harvey police officer earlier the same day.
Jemetric Nicholson, 28, has been charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors have alleged he was the gunman who killed Cook.
"I never want any family to go through this," said Cook's older brother, Bob Cook. "It's a horrible feeling, not only for a policeman's family, but any public employee, any innocent civilian - whether it's an adult or child - no family should have to go through this."
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Bob Cook said he'll be at Nicholson's trial, to support his brother's family.
"To be there for my sister-in-law, and my niece and nephew, to be there for the rest of the family, and to be there for my brother; someone has to be there for him," he said. "He was a good man. I loved him."
Jury selection in Nicholson's trial has been scheduled for this week.
"We want justice. That's all we're looking for right now," Bob Cook said. "We want this to go to trial. We hope that in the end, there's a guilty verdict and a sentence. And then I say I'll let my brother rest in peace."
A second man, Jeremy Lloyd, pleaded guilty five years ago to murder for acting as the lookout when Nicholson allegedly shot Officer Cook. He also pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the shootout with the Harvey officer. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
