AUSTIN -- The man who told police a deadly shooting was "the biggest mistake of his life" has been found not guilty of murder in a 22-year-old Austin man's 2017 death, according to a district court.
On Nov. 15, 2017, police were called to a North Austin apartment complex where a shooting had happened. Police said that Melvin Stephens, 47, got into an argument with Dedrick Earl, 22, at the apartment complex located at 8800 North Interstate 35. During the argument, Stephens allegedly confronted Earl with a revolver and threatened to shoot him. At some point, a witness said Earl and Stephens began walking upstairs to Stephens' apartment. That's when the witness said he heard two gunshots and Earl came back downstairs holding his neck. Police said Earl died at a hospital.
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Police said that Stephens was remorseful and that he said he could have pushed the victim instead of shooting him.
According to the Travis County District Clerk’s Office, a jury June 8 found Melvin Stephens was found not guilty of murder in the 427th District Court.
