A judge has dismissed murder charges in the case of a bystander who was killed during a Farmington shootout targeting his neighbor.
Chief District Judge John Dean dropped the charges Friday against 26-year-old Lawrence Kellywood and 31-year-old Levi Wilson because of lack of evidence.
The judge ruled neither man could be prosecuted because police never recovered the bullet that killed 40-year-old Christopher Valdez.
Prosecutors say Kellywood and Wilson walked up to the home of Michael Tafoya on July 27 with handguns and began firing. Tafoya returned fire.
Valdez was killed while walking up the street to check on the commotion.
Tafoya, Kellywood and Wilson were all wounded.
San Juan County District Attorney Rick Tedrow says he will appeal Dean's decision to the state Supreme Court.
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Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com
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