Joseph McAlpine, a convicted felon and suspected gang member, has been charged with capital murder in connection with the April homicides of a couple at a Cleveland car dealership.
McAlpine had previously been charged with aggravated murder back in June but charges were refiled after the prosecutor's office submitted paperwork seeking the death penalty.
The 29-year-old had been out of jail for less than a year when his DNA was found on evidence at the crime scene of a double homicide that occurred on at Mr. Cars Inc. on April 14.
Trina and Michael Kuznik were pronounced dead at the scene, both shot to death.
McAlpine previously served an eight year sentence for a 2008 aggravated robbery, in which he held a knife to a women's neck and threatened to kill her.
In a court appearance Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was held on a $5 million bond. His first pretrial is scheduled for July 5.
