Police drop capital murder charges against Meridian teen

Published 9:32 pm Monday, January 7, 2019

MERIDIAN — Prosecutors have reduced capital murder charges against a Mississippi teen to attempted murder, armed robbery and manslaughter.

The Meridian Star reports charges against 16-year-old Dezjuan Moffite were reduced during a Monday hearing.

Police say Moffitte and 22-year-old Randarious Martin were armed when they tried to rob a Meridian apartment Thursday. Police say Martin and a resident fought over Martin’s gun, and the resident fatally shot Martin three times in the chest.

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Municipal Court Judge Robbie Jones ruled Monday that police have enough evidence to hold Moffite until a grand jury decides on an indictment. Jones set bail at $750,000.

Jones says the new charges better fit the facts. Under Mississippi law, people can be charged with murder for deaths during crimes even if they don’t pull the trigger. Moffite was charged as an adult.