TACOMA, Wash. – The getaway driver for police killer Maurice Clemmons was found guilty Thursday on four counts of first-degree murder.
"You got what you wanted. It ain't going to bring them back, though," Dorcus Allen said as he left the courtroom Thursday.
Allen was accused of driving Clemmons to and from the area of the coffee shop where Clemmons shot and killed four Lakewood police officers in November 2009.
After nearly five days of deliberating, jurors said they finally agreed Allen knew, or should have known, what Clemmons was going to do when they drove past the coffee shop and saw four police cars parked outside.
“Not to say he knew what was going to happen,” said jury foreperson Chrissy, who wouldn’t reveal her last name, “But he knew he was sitting next to a ticking time bomb.”
Lakewood’s Assistant Police Chief said Allen's post-verdict statement was accurate on both claims.
“It’s never going to bring back the lost loved ones,” said Assistant Chief Mike Zaro. “As a department and law enforcement family, we're glad we can get some kind of closure on this.”
Allen’s defense attorney said the verdict was “wrong” and he plans on appealing “as soon as possible.”
“This was a lynching,” said defense attorney Peter Mazzone.
A number of jurors said it was a fair and difficult trial.
“We had a juror vomit today,” said juror Gary, who did not want his last name published.
“This was very hard. The hardest thing I’ve ever done,” said juror Inga Galtney.
Prosecutors will ask for life in prison when Allen is sentenced June 17.
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