3 Found Guilty in Murder of Rookie Officer
Three men were convicted Wednesday in the execution-style murder of a rookie policeman whose death became an issue in last year’s presidential campaign and helped set the national agenda in the war on drugs.
Scott Cobb, 25, was convicted of second-degree murder and weapons charges for his role in the death of Officer Edward Byrne, 22, who was shot five times on Feb. 26, 1988, while he sat in his patrol car guarding the home of a witness.
About two hours after the Cobb verdict was announced, a second jury convicted Todd Scott, 20, and Philip Copeland, 23.
Byrne’s shooting became an issue in the presidential election when his father, Matthew Byrne, presented then-Vice President George Bush with his son’s police shield.
Bush showed the shield to audiences around the country when he spoke about the need to crack down on illegal drugs.
The defendants each face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life on the murder charges and 5 to 15 years on second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
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