Barshaw Murder Trial to Get Underway Thursday

ST. CLOUD -- A Walker man has waived his right to a jury trial and will let a Stearns County judge rule in his first degree murder trial.

Opening arguments are scheduled to begin Thursday in the Marcus Barshaw trial.

The 29-year-old Barshaw is accused of shooting and killing Jeffrey Schutz in June 2012 after an argument at Schutz' Rockville home.

Records show Schutz was shot six times, but may have been fired upon eight or more times. Barshaw then fled the scene on foot and was found hiding with a handgun and an assault rifle in a nearby apartment building laundry room.

Barshaw was then shot three times by Stearns County Sheriff’s deputies after he refused to drop the guns, and even raised one of the weapons toward police.  He was hospitalized for treatment of his injuries before being taken jail.

A grand jury also charged Barshaw with second-degree murder, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and use of deadly force against a peace officer.