The murder charge against Neal Anthony Anderson, 28, of 15-A Harlem St., has been dropped, at least for now, Starkville police said Monday evening.
Anderson was charged in the Friday night shooting death of Decorian K. Coleman, 17, 335 Santa Anita Drive. But in a Municipal Court session Monday, Police Chief Frank Nichols recommended that the charge against Anderson be “retired to the file,” according to a news release police sent out about 6:30 p.m. Investigators found insignificant evidence to charge Anderson with murder, police said.
“It’s been dropped for now, but it could be brought back up later,” Assistant Police Chief Chris Thomas said Monday evening. Anderson does not currently face any other charges, Thomas said.
As of Monday night, Anderson was not held in the Oktibbeha County Jail.
He was arrested after Coleman was shot, around 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Camelot Apartments, 1040 N. Montgomery St. Officers answering a shots-fired call found Coleman lying on the ground, and he died at the scene, according to police.
Austin Voller, Anderson’s attorney, issued a statement Tuesday morning following the dropped charges.
“Although we are pleased with the outcome, we are truly saddened by the loss of a young life in our community,” Vollor said. “We extend our thanks to SPD for its thorough investigation and appreciate its concern for our safety. Mr. Anderson is relieved but will make no other public statements regarding this matter.”
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