Trial to Begin October 7 in SFA Footballer’s Death

TYLER — A judge announced Monday there would be no plea bargain in the case of Ricky Neal, Jr., 23, of Tyler. According to KETK, Neal (pictured) allegedly murdered former Chapel Hill High School and Stephen F. Austin State University football player Chris Mass, 23, of Tyler. Neal has also been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after police claimed he also shot at Jonathan Lamone Dews, 29, of Tyler. On Saturday, February 9, 2013, Neal allegedly killed Mass following a dispute involving Twitter. Neal’s trial is slated to begin October 7.

According to Tyler police, around 9:15am on February 9, officials were dispatched to a shooting in the mall’s parking lot near JC Penney. Officials say Neal and his girlfriend went to the mall to buy shoes at Champs. As they entered the mall, Neal noticed a group of men, one of whom he reportedly had a prior issue with about “tweeting” at his girlfriend. Police say a confrontation ensued between Neal and another man from the group inside the mall and continued in the parking lot. According to authorities, Neal then pulled out a gun and shot the victim, later identified as Mass, multiple times, killing him. According to Officer Don Martin from TPD, Neal was cooperative with authorities and was taken into custody.