Prosecutors said they will reduce the charge against a former Northern Arizona University student in a fatal 2015 shooting from first to second-degree murder.
A court filing Thursday by the Coconino County Attorney's Office says appeals on behalf of Steven Jones would result in further delays of a retrial. Jones' attorneys argued that even though a judge declared a mistrial because of a hung jury he was actually acquitted of first-degree murder and that trying him again on the charge would amount to double jeopardy. Jones acknowledges firing the shots that killed 20-year-old Colin Brough and injured three other students but maintains he fired in self-defense.