Man accused of killing Roswell police officer pleads not guilty to charges

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Edward Espinoza (Fulton County Sheriff's Office)

ROSWELL, Ga. - The man accused of killing a Roswell police officer while he was responding to a suspicious persons call has pleaded not guilty in the case.

Edward Espinoza, 23, is charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault on a peace officer, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for the death of Officer Jeremy Labonte.

RELATED: Who is Edward Espinoza? Man accused of killing Roswell police officer

The backstory:

On the night of Feb. 7, Roswell police responded to a report of a suspicious person at a shopping plaza on Market Boulevard.

According to the Roswell Police Department, officers were called out due to a report of a suspicious person. Officer Jeremy Labonte, 24, found a man in a parking lot near the ACE Pickleball Club. 

Roswell Police Chief James Conroy said that person almost immediately pulled out a gun and opened fire on Labonte, hitting him multiple times.

Officer Jeremy Labonte (Credit: Roswell Police Department)

The man, later identified as Espinoza, was arrested by other officers shortly after the shooting. Investigators say the weapon used in the shooting was a ghost gun.

In March, a judge denied a move by Espinoza's attorney to get bond, saying that he posed a flight risk and a danger to the community.

Dig deeper:

Records obtained by FOX 5 revealed that this latest arrest was not Espinoza's first run-in with the Roswell Police Department.

His first encounter with them was in 2021, when he fired a gun recklessly in a public space. He was charged with misdemeanor discharge of firearms on the property of another and took a negotiated guilty plea - receiving a sentence of 12-months probation and community service.

Roswell community heartbroken over officer's death

The entire city of Roswell has joined the police department in mourning the death of 24-year-old Officer Jeremy Labonte who was killed in the line of duty. Meanwhile, funeral arrangements have been finalized for the beloved officer.

Espinoza was arrested in 2022 for criminal trespassing, taking another negotiated guilty plea. Two years later, he was charged with simple battery, criminal trespass, and public drunkenness. He pleaded not guilty. That case was still pending at the time of the shooting.

What's next:

Following the hearing, Espinoza's attorney plans to file his motions by the end of the day. 

The judge is expect to schedule another hearing to discuss motions and discovery at a later date.