MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — The man accused of shooting and killing a St. Jude researcher in a robbery this weekend made his first court appearance Wednesday.
A judge told Marious Ward that the district attorney could pursue the death penalty in his case.
Ward, 24, is charged with first-degree murder, murder in perpetration of a felony, especially aggravated robbery, attempted murder, attempted robbery, and use of a firearm in a felony in the case.
He is accused of killing Alexander Bulakhov, 32, during a robbery Sunday evening on Tennessee Street in downtown Memphis.
Bulakhov was walking with his wife and 2-year-old child when he was approached by an armed man. Police say he was shot when he tried to wrestle the gun away from the suspect to defend his family.
The Bulakhovs were from Russia and had most recently lived in New York before moving to Memphis over the summer. Bulakhov was a postdoctoral researcher at St. Jude and his wife was set to start a job there in December, a family friend said.
According to information stated in court, Ward had recently been hired at Amazon and lived with his grandmother. He cannot afford an attorney and may have one appointed.
He had no adult or juvenile criminal record listed in databases.
Ward is set for another reported date to court on Dec. 1.
Brandy Rucker is also charged in the case. She admitted to driving the car while Ward allegedly robbed and shot Bulakhov. That car helped police trace the pair to Frayser, where they were arrested Monday.
