Homicide charge withdrawn
The criminal homicide charge filed against a Brownsville man was withdrawn Wednesday at Fayette County Central Court.
District Attorney Rich Bower declined to discuss what led prosecutors to withdraw the charge lodged against Jamal Brown, 21.
Brown was scheduled Wednesday to have a preliminary hearing in the July 5 shooting death of Taekwon Commodore, 28, of Republic.
Commodore was shot in the shoulder in Snowden Terrace following an argument involving two women and two men, authorities said.
Police alleged Brown fired shots at the group. Someone drove Commodore in a personal vehicle to the Brownsville police station, and an ambulance transported him to Uniontown Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Members of the Commodore’s family have previously said they think the wrong man is behind bars, and Brown asserted his innocence at a previously scheduled hearing.
While prosecutors withdrew the homicide charge, Brown waived four counts of aggravated assault and one count of recklessly endangering another person to court.
In addition a magistrate set Brown’s bond at 10 percent of $10,000. He had formerly been lodged in the Fayette County Prison without bond because he was charged with homicide.
A preliminary hearing in the case had been scheduled but delayed five other times.
Brown will face formal arraignment in common pleas court on the remaining charges next month.