Jury selection underway for former Mesa Police officer accused of second degree murder

Jury selection is underway in the trial of a former Mesa Police officer who allegedly shot an unarmed man while on duty.

Philip Brailsford is facing second degree murder charges, and he pleaded not guilty to the charges. Jury selection is expected to take two to three days.

Brailsford is accused of shooting and killing Daniel Shaver, who was in Mesa on a business trip.

Police were responding to a call that someone was pointing a rifle out a hotel window. Shaver worked as an exterminator, and the gun turned out to be a pellet gun.

The shooting was captured by police body camera. Portions of the footage have been made public, but a judge blocked the release of the video that shows the shooting. Brailsford said he opened fire, because he thought shaver was reaching for a gun.

Brailsford was fired by Mesa Police, in part for etching an expletive into his duty weapon. Opening statements could begin by the end of the week.