DECATUR, Ala. — UPDATE: Court documents show that a hearing about a recently-issued gag order, which will determine if the order will be permanent, is now scheduled for May 17 at 1:30 p.m. The hearing was originally scheduled to be on April 8. It was then moved to May 20, and then to May 17.
Previous story: A Morgan County judge has granted a temporary gag order in the case of former Decatur police officer Mac Marquette, charged with murder in shooting death of Steve Perkins. The order prevents all parties from discussing the case with third parties, including the media.
In documents filed by District Attorney Scott Anderson, the gag order was requested "in an effort to protect the integrity of this case and to ensure a fair and impartial trial."
Marquette has entered a plea of "not guilty" and waived his right to an arraignment. This is according to court documents filed on February 9, 2024.
A hearing is scheduled for April 8. Trial is currently set to begin in October. The gag order is marked as temporary, meaning it could be lifted as circumstances change.
The murder charge stems from the shooting death of Steve Perkins on September 29, 2023. Marquette was one of the officers who went to the home of Steve Perkins after a tow truck driver attempting to repossess Perkins's car called police, alleging Perkins had threatened him with a gun.
Ring camera footage shows officers on Perkins's property and Steve Perkins in the front yard with an object in his hand. An officer yells, "Police, get on the ground," before immediately opening fire.
Three officers, including Marquette, were fired in the aftermath of the shooting and one was suspended without pay, all for violating police procedure.
