CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. -- Punta Gorda's police chief is officially heading to trial next month.
A Charlotte County judge has dismissed a motion by Chief Tom Lewis' attorney, calling for the case against him to be thrown out.
The decision comes eight months after a deadly shooting happened under his watch.
Lewis remains on administrative leave and charged with Culpable Negligence, a second degree misdemeanor.
The charge comes in the wake of a tragic accident during a citizen’s academy training exercise in August 2016.
During a 'shoot, don’t shoot’ demonstration, Officer Lee Coel accidentally shot and killed former librarian Mary Knowlton when he thought the gun was loaded with blanks.
Coel was charged with First-degree Felony Manslaughter, and was later fired.
Lewis' attorney wanted the Culpable Negligence charge dropped, arguing Chief Lewis had no idea the exercise could have taken a deadly turn.
