Trial for Brandon O’Neel, accused of shooting a state trooper, delayed to December

WALLA WALLA — The first-degree attempted murder trial of Walla Walla resident Brandon O’Neel has been delayed again — this time until December.

O’Neel, 39, accused of shooting a Washington State Patrol trooper several times in September 2022, signed a speedy trial waiver on Thursday, Sept. 5, according to court documents, that allowed his trial to be rescheduled for Monday, Dec. 16.

O’Neel is next scheduled in court on Thursday, Nov. 14, for a pretrial hearing.

O’Neel is charged with first-degree attempted premeditated murder, first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, attempting to elude police, threatening to bomb with intent to alarm and harassment with threats to kill.

He is accused of shooting Trooper Dean Atkinson Jr. on Sept. 22, 2022, after O’Neel was evicted from his apartment earlier that day.

Prosecutors say O’Neel stopped his vehicle near Atkinson’s patrol vehicle on West Poplar Street, before getting out and shooting the trooper multiple times in the hand and face, according to court documents.

Despite being shot in the face and hand, Atkinson drove himself to Providence St. Mary Medical Center and was later transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Atkinson was discharged Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, and was escorted across the state back to his Walla Walla home by a convoy of police officers.