GRETNA - A day after a grand jury charged him with first-degree murder, the man accused of fatally shooting a Jefferson Parish deputy pleaded not guilty in court.
Jerman Neveaux, 19, appeared in court Friday morning along with his attorney Martin Regan to plead not guilty to the murder of JPSO Deputy David Michel and all other charges against him.
Neveaux is accused of shooting Michel on June 22, 2016 outside the Dunkin’ Donuts on Manhattan Boulevard.
Michel was patrolling the Pebble Walk neighborhood when he spotted Neveaux following someone on foot, according to JPSO. Michel, who was wearing street clothes, stopped Neveaux and attempted to search him. At some point during the encounter, Neveaux allegedly pulled out a stolen gun and opened fire on the deputy, fatally wounding him.
Sheriff Newell Normand said a witness told authorities that Neveaux grabbed Michel by the hair and neck after shooting him the first time and then fired two additional rounds into his body.
"It is clearly obvious that this was a cold-blooded murder," Normand said after the shooting.
Neveaux was taken into court in a wheelchair, apparently due to spinal injuries sustained at the hands of law enforcement officers during his arrest.
His attorney said he sought change of venue due to the high publicity the case has received.
Neveaux has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, resisting arrest by force or violence and possession of a stolen firearm.
Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick on Thursday said his office will seek the death penalty against Neveaux.
“We believe the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of Detective Michel warrant the harshest penalty," Connick said in a statement.
Neveaux and Regan will be back in court on Nov. 28 for a status hearing after the state has time to look through the defense’s discovery motions.
