Trial Judge: Othal Wallace will stand trial in 2023 on murder charges in gunshot slaying of Daytona Beach cop Justin Raynor

Click the link here for video coverage of Wednesday's court proceedings: WKMG 6 Click Orlando video.  

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Finally, there's a movement afoot to bring accused cop killer Othal Wallace to justice with a capital murder trial now scheduled for April 2023 in the gunshot slaying of Daytona Beach police officer Jason Raynor. 

This thanks to Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano who made clear to all concerned at a status conference on Wednesday at the Volusia County Branch Jail courtroom the time was at hand to get this in motion, knowing all too well as immediate past chief judge of the 7th judicial circuit and as a former lead homicide prosecutor, how slow the wheels of justice can turn.

As it is, with a complex case like this with the death penalty in play and with all the evidence that still needs to be processed and shared with the defense under discovery rules, that Zambrano has pushed the start of this trial a full 16 months from now, speaks to the complexities of putting Raynor's alleged killer on trial entails.

Here in Central Florida, especially high-profile trials generate a lot of media buzz and it's the loved ones of the murdered cop who have to endure.

The most recent case is that of Markeith Lloyd, already serving a life sentence for killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend and her unborn child,  found guilty early last month of capital murder in the gunshot slaying of Orlando cop Deborah Clayton back in January 2017, during the police manhunt for his capture.  

The jury reached a verdict on Dec. 9 that Lloyd is to be executed. The judge still has to pronounce the actual sentence. Clayton, 42, a master sergeant in the Orlando police force when she was gunned down, was posthumously promoted to lieutenant.

Raynor succumbed to his injuries on Aug. 17 in the intensive care unit at Halifax Health Hospital, 55 days after he was shot in the head at close range.

Othal Wallace apprehended Headline SurferRaynor passed away at 8:09 this evening (August 17, 2021) at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach with his family by his side.

“Now more than ever, we ask for all of you to embrace the Raynor family and the Daytona Beach Police Department in your hearts during this devastating time and pray that God will give us all the strength to persevere through this senseless tragedy,” Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said, pledging. “Jason’s sacrifice will never be forgotten.” 

On behalf of the family, Young thanked everyone who has shown their love and support. He was now asking asked for the public – including members of the media – to respect their desire for privacy while they grieve for their loved one.

“We ask that anyone who would like to send their condolences or offer a donation or do something on behalf of the Raynor family to please contact the police department instead of going directly to them,” Young added. “We hope this will ease some of the burden on them.” 

Officer Raynor becomes the 10th DBPD officer to fall in the line of duty, DBPD spokesman Messod Bendayan said in a written statement emailed to Headline Surfer and other media outlets.

Prior to Raynor, the last DBPD officer to lose his life from injuries sustained while on patrol was Kevin Fischer in 1998. The last officer to pass away from injuries while on duty was Thomas Coulter in 2018 during a training exercise. 

Wallace was apprehended in Georgia on June 24.

Raynor and Wallace crossed paths on June 17 leading to the deadly encounter just before 9 p.m. at 133 Kingston Avenue when the cop responded to a suspicious incident in the area ad asked Wallace to get out of his car, leading to a physical struggle and Wallace firing the shot from a handgun. The struggle was captured on Raynor's body cam.

The suspect – identified as 29-year-old Othal Wallace – fled the scene after the shooting. 

Other officers arrived shortly afterward at the scene, finding Raynor shot and lying on the ground with a visible gunshot wound to his head. 

Paramedics rushed him to Halifax Hospital for treatment.

A multi-agency manhunt for Wallace was underway that same night.

Henry Frederick bio / Headline Surfer

About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.