By Police1 Staff
HOUSTON — The man who killed a Houston police officer in the line of duty will return to death row, a jury decided Tuesday.
Carl Wayne Buntion was granted a new sentencing hearing in the death of Officer James Irby during a traffic stop 22 years ago because of faulty jury instructions in his first trial, according to KHOU. Buntion, 68, could have been sentenced to life in prison, which would have made him immediately eligible for parole.
Buntion got out of the car during the traffic stop and shot Irby — who was working as a motorcycle patrol officer — in the head, prosecutors said.
Irby’s son, Cody, was 3 year old when he died. Driven to follow in his father’s footsteps, he is now a police officer in Pflugerville.
Maura Irby said she has waited to see her husband’s killer die, offering one message for Buntion.
“Die faster,” she said.