JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A trial for a 19-year-old charged with shooting and critically injuring a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office detective last year was delayed and will now begin in July.
The trial had been scheduled for Feb. 6, but lawyers for Kevin Rojas asked for a continuance last week, which was granted.
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The new trial date was set for July 17.
Rojas pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted murder of a police officer, two counts of aggravated assault of a police officer, shooting into an occupied vehicle and other charges.
After the off-duty narcotics detective was shot during a traffic stop, Rojas was chased and shot after refusing to drop a gun, police said.
One of Rojas' roommates said she had become afraid of him and bought a gun for protection. Police said that was the gun Rojas used to shoot the officer.
According to police, Rojas was driving erratically on the city's Westside after having an argument with his girlfriend. They said at one point, Rojas told the woman it would be his last day on earth.
Police said after the detective was shot, officers caught up to Rojas in a nearby neighborhood. They told him to drop his weapon, but they said he wouldn't, so they fired.
The detective's son was in the car at the time of the shooting.