Auburn woman facing murder charge in bar shooting will remain in jail

The Auburn woman charged with murder in a March bar shooting in Auburn will remain in the Cayuga County Jail without bail.

Prosecutors argue Copes is a flight risk

The Citizen reports that 28-year-old Shameek Marie Copes of Auburn appeared Thursday before Judge Thomas Leone in Cayuga County Court. Copes was charged with murder in the shooting death of 37-year-old John Wesley Smith III of Syracuse outside Switfy’s Tavern in Auburn in the early morning hours of March 15. At her arraignment in May, Copes pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

Acting Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci said Copes was “caught on video shooting and killing the victim.” At her arraignment, Copes’ attorney Rome Canzano argued for bail for his client, saying she was not a flight risk. Cayuga County Chief Assistant District Attorney Chris Valdina told the judge Copes had fled to South Carolina following the shooting, but Canzano said his client told him she was in the process of moving out of state at the time and turned herself into South Carolina authorities when she learned there was a warrant for her arrest.

Copes’ attorney says prosecution has not turned over discovery evidence

Canzano complained he has not been able to file motions on his client’s behalf, because he doesn’t have all the discovery materials for her case. He says there are over 1,000 pages of documents pertaining to the case. Leone ordered the Cayuga County DA’s office to turn over the remaining materials within 45 days.

Staff Report

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