Former Ala. cop indicted on capital murder charges for allegedly shooting, killing pregnant girlfriend

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (TCD) -- A 29-year-old former officer with the Huntsville Police Department was indicted on capital murder charges over a year after he allegedly shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend.

WHNT-TV reports prosecutors are charging David McCoy with three counts of capital murder for the death of Courtney Spraggins, their unborn child, and killing Spraggins inside a car on Jan. 7, 2022, at the Weston Ranch Apartments. McCoy reportedly lived at the apartment complex and was a courtesy officer there on occasion.

Spraggins reportedly moved to Huntsville from Maryland to be with McCoy, but McCoy allegedly told her he “needed more time” when she arrived. In one text message exchange, Spraggins reportedly asked what to do, and he allegedly responded, "A bullet to the head sounds good to me."

Spraggins returned to Alabama on Jan. 7, and McCoy let her into the apartment complex at 8:04 a.m. According to WHNT, an investigator with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency testified at a preliminary hearing that McCoy and Spraggins took a drive in his truck, and Spraggins got back in her car. Spraggins was then fatally shot in the head.

He allegedly went back to his apartment, changed his clothes, and hid his gun. McCoy reportedly told investigators he was sleeping and woke up to the sound of a gunshot. McCoy initially said he did not know Spraggins and that he had "seen her once."

Detectives, however, reportedly found a picture of McCoy inside her car and text messages that allegedly linked McCoy to the shooting.

Since McCoy worked for the Huntsville Police Department, Chief Mark McMurray called in the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation to lead the investigation. McMurray said he placed McCoy on administrative leave following the shooting, but then "immediately relieved him of his role as police officer" after he became a person of interest. By Jan. 10, 2022, he was no longer employed by the city of Huntsville.

According to WAAY-TV, McCoy was engaged and living with someone else when McCoy got pregnant and moved to Huntsville.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Special Agent Brittney Hayes reportedly testified that at one point during her interview with McCoy, he said, "I did it."

WHNT reports prosecutors plan on seeking the death penalty for McCoy if he is convicted.

MORE:

• Former HPD officer indicted for capital murder in shooting death of pregnant girlfriend - WHNT
• State to seek death penalty, more charges for David McCoy in murder of Courtney Spraggins, 1/28/2022 - WAAY
• Statement from Police Chief on Spraggins murder investigation, 1/13/2022 - Huntsville Police Department
• Alabama police officer accused of fatally shooting pregnant girlfriend in the head, 1/10/2022 - TCD