Joshua Russell was sentenced to death and remains on Alabama Death Row for the murder of a Police Officer. According to court documents Joshua Russell would run from officer Justin Sollohub and during the chase would turn and fire striking the Officer in the head. Joshua Russell would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
Joshua Russell 2021 Information
| Inmate: | RUSSELL, JOSHUA EUGENE |
| AIS: | 0000z793 |
| Institution: | HOLMAN DEATH ROW |
Joshua Russell More News
Joshua Russell, the man charged with killing Anniston officer Justin Sollohub, has been found guilty of capital murder.
The Lee County jury handed down the verdict around 5 p.m. Monday. Russell could face the death penalty.
Deliberations began around noon Monday and the jury had a great deal of physical and video evidence to consider.
Sollohub, 27, was shot in the head after chasing Russell on foot on August 24, 2011.
John Robbins, Russell’s attorney, told jurors in his closing statements that his client didn’t intend to kill Sollohub. He didn’t call any defense witnesses but will do so during the sentencing phase in an effort to save Russell’s life.
Russell’s sentencing phase begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17. The prosecution will push for the death penalty and Robbins says he will ask for life without parole. The jury will make their recommendation but the final say lies with Calhoun County Circuit Judge Brian Howell.
Sollohub’s mother, Jennifer Morris, and his stepfather have attended the two week trial. She says that all her son ever wanted to be was a policeman.
The case was moved to Opelika in Lee County due to pretrial publicity and in an effort to find a jury that had not heard much about the murder