The Justice Department does not intend to seek the death penalty against a New Orleans man charged with having a role in five 2007 killings, including an off-duty police officer's fatal shooting.
A two-page court filing Monday by U.S. Attorney Jim Letten's office didn't explain its decision in the case against Steven Earl Hardrick.
A March 15 indictment claims Hardrick and others demanded money and cocaine when they broke into the home of New Orleans Police Detective Thelonius Dukes and shot him in October 2007. Dukes died the following month.
The indictment also charges Hardrick with participating in the October 2007 carjacking and killings of Brett Jacobs, David Alford and Howard Pickens. He's also charged in the death of Dwayne Landry, who was shot and killed earlier the same month.