Dontae Morris, accused of killing two Tampa police officers, also being tried in Cotton Club shooting

TAMPA — Dontae Morris has a trial date.

The state will try the case involving Rodney Jones, a 42-year-old Tampa man who was shot May 31, 2010, as he left the Cotton Club.

Morris faces a charge of first-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors don't anticipate the case will take more than a week to try, but Circuit Judge William Fuente said seating a jury might take a while, considering the publicity surrounding Morris.

Morris is also accused of fatally shooting Tampa police Officers Jeffrey Kocab and David Curtis on June 29, 2010.

He faces the death penalty in those cases, but not in the slaying of Jones.

Morris has also been accused of fatally shooting Harold Wright and Derek Anderson.

Jessica Vander Velde can be reached at jvandervelde@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3433.