CUMBERLAND — A former Cumberland man charged in last week’s shooting death of a Delaware police officer is scheduled to appear in Sussex County Court of Common Pleas for the first time today.

Derrick J. Powell, 22, who formerly resided in South Cumberland, is charged with first-degree murder and other offenses in connection with the slaying of Georgetown Police Officer Chad Spicer and wounding of Cpl. Shawn M. Brittingham during a traffic stop Sept. 1 in the Kimmeytown neighborhood of Georgetown.

Powell allegedly fired a 9 mm pistol that killed Spicer as he got out of the passenger side of a police cruiser that was being operated by Brittingham. The officers were responding to a report of shots fired at a McDonald’s restaurant before they encountered the suspect vehicle about 10 blocks away from the business.

Powell was arrested a short time later about three blocks away from the scene after he struck up a conversation with a resident who was not aware of the incident. Powell reportedly asked for a drink of water and was inside the dwelling when the resident became suspicious. She then left her home and contacted police who were combing the area in search of Spicer’s killer. Four officers then entered with weapons drawn and took Powell into custody.

Christopher Reeves, 20, of Lincoln, Del., the driver of the suspect vehicle, ran away at the time of the traffic stop but turned himself in to police Friday at the urging of his mother, police said. A third occupant of the vehicle, Luis Flores, has not been charged.

Powell, who could face the death penalty in the case, and Reeves are jailed at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in southern New Castle County. The prison houses approximately 2,500 inmates and is located about an hour from Georgetown, where today’s court hearing will be conducted. Georgetown is located about 18 miles from Rehoboth Beach.

The case is being investigated by Delaware State Police and is being prosecuted by the Delaware Department of Justice. The case has not yet been assigned to a specific prosecutor, according to Jason Miller, public information officer for the agency.

The preliminary hearing for Powell is scheduled to begin sometime this afternoon, Miller said.

Spicer’s funeral was held Tuesday. Brittingham was released from the hospital the day after the shooting.