Posted 3:48 pm Monday, February 11, 2013
Send to Kindle
UPDATE: Attorney appointed for mall shooting suspect
Updated Monday, February 11, 2013 at 3:48 p.m. CST
Judge Kerry Russell of the 7th District Court appointed Ricky Neal Jr. an attorney this afternoon. O.M. "Buddy" Lloyd will represent Neal, who filled out a pauper's oath in court -- indicating he cannot afford an attorney.
--------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
By KENNETH DEAN
kdean@tylerpaper.com
The man police say shot and killed a former Chapel Hill High School basketball and football star is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court today.
District Judge Kerry Russell's office told the Tyler Morning Telegraph this morning that 25-year-old Ricky Neal Jr., will be in court today at 3 p.m. for his first scheduled appearance before the judge.
Neal has been charged with the Saturday shooting death of 23-year-old Chris Mass at Broadway Square Mall after a confrontation in Champs Shoe store shortly after 9 a.m.
Champs had opened early because the new Michael Jordan shoe was on sale.
Neal and Jonathan Lamone Dews began arguing in the store over Twitter tweets Neal had been sending Dews' girlfriend.
Tyler Police Spokesperson Don Martin did not know the specifics of the tweets, but said the two men had been in a physical altercation prior to Saturday. When they met at the mall, the confrontation intensified.
Neal remains jailed on murder and aggravated assault charges after he allegedly shot Mass and fired at Dews.
Martin said the investigation at this time does not indicate that Neal acted in self defense, because he agreed to a fight and then pulled a gun out on Mass, Dews and another man.
Martin also said there were no other weapons found at the scene beside the .40-caliber handgun Neal used to fire multiple rounds.
kdean@tylerpaper.com
The man police say shot and killed a former Chapel Hill High School basketball and football star is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court today.
District Judge Kerry Russell's office told the Tyler Morning Telegraph this morning that 25-year-old Ricky Neal Jr., will be in court today at 3 p.m. for his first scheduled appearance before the judge.
Neal has been charged with the Saturday shooting death of 23-year-old Chris Mass at Broadway Square Mall after a confrontation in Champs Shoe store shortly after 9 a.m.
Champs had opened early because the new Michael Jordan shoe was on sale.
Neal and Jonathan Lamone Dews began arguing in the store over Twitter tweets Neal had been sending Dews' girlfriend.
Tyler Police Spokesperson Don Martin did not know the specifics of the tweets, but said the two men had been in a physical altercation prior to Saturday. When they met at the mall, the confrontation intensified.
Neal remains jailed on murder and aggravated assault charges after he allegedly shot Mass and fired at Dews.
Martin said the investigation at this time does not indicate that Neal acted in self defense, because he agreed to a fight and then pulled a gun out on Mass, Dews and another man.
Martin also said there were no other weapons found at the scene beside the .40-caliber handgun Neal used to fire multiple rounds.
