Marco Antonio Perez, 24, of Theodore, was found guilty of capital murder for the 2019 shooting death of Mobile Police officer Sean Tuder.
Tuder was shot and killed on January 20, 2019, while serving an arrest warrant. The shooting occurred at an apartment complex off Leroy Steven Road at 3 p.m.
According to police, Perez had federal warrants and had previously faked his abduction to avoid prosecution.
In 2021, jurors acquitted Perez on federal charges of obstructing justice by killing a witness and firing a gun during a violent crime. Attorneys argued Tuder did not identify himself as an officer, and Perez protected himself under Alabama's "Stand Your Ground" law when he identified what he believed to be a threat. The same argument was offered by the defense in the state case but to no avail.
Perez was convicted on federal charges of possessing a stolen firearm and receiving a gun while under indictment and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Perez was denied immunity for the state charges under Alabama's "Stand Your Ground" law. He now faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
The trial lasted over a month. The penalty phase will begin Thursday afternoon.
According to Tuder's obituary, the police officer was 31 years old at the time of his death. He was a member of the Alabama National Guard and had been with the Mobile Police Department since 2016.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
