The District Attorney's office announced Friday, June 13, that it would not prosecute Davonta Duffie, 15, of Gates, on the murder charges. Duffie had been charged in connection with a Feb. 27 shooting melee in Newbern that resulted in the death of Tamara Brown, 20, of Newbern, and an injury to Donald Lee Wilkes, 42, of Newbern.

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Assistant District Attorney Renee Creasy said the crime lab reports and the statements of witnesses and Duffie all indicated that Duffie did not fire the weapon that killed Brown or wounded Wilkes.

Duffie did, however, admit to shooting a rifle into the air that night and pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated assault. Because Duffie lives in Gates, his case is being transferred to Lauderdale County Juvenile Court for sentencing. Duffie is forbidden to contact any of the victims or their families.

After the hearing, the metal cuffs were removed from Duffie's hands and feet, and he was allowed to leave the courtroom with his father and other family members.

Duffie is one of three teens charged after the Newbern shooting. His co-defendants -- Colton Dequan Whitelow, 18, of Halls and Darnel Capri Madison, 18, of Ripley -- were indicted Monday, June 9. They are to be arraigned June 30 in Dyer County Circuit Court on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault.

Duffie testified Friday that he didn't know what he was getting into that night. He said he was riding in Whitelow's car with two other males, believing that they were going to a fast food restaurant in Dyersburg. Whitelow drove past the restaurant while talking on a cell phone. Duffie said he told Whitelow he'd missed the restaurant. Whitelow told him that he was going to a different location of the same franchise and drove on to Newbern. There, Whitelow parked on a side street and, as the group listened to music, Whitelow got out of the car and opened the trunk. Duffie said he thought Whitelow was adjusting the stereo speakers, but he wasn't.

When Whitelow returned to the front of the car, he handed Duffie a rifle and told him to carry it. Duffie said he objected, but Whitelow insisted. They walked to Grayson Street, where Whitelow complained that his "cousin was jumped on" and he instigated a fight between two girls, Duffie said.

At some point, Duffie said, Whitelow yelled that he was "fixing to bust this …" and began shooting into the crowd.

"He was really into it," Duffie said of Whitelow. "He was mad. He was angry."

Whitelow reportedly fired two shots quickly, paused and then pandemonium set in as the crowd scampered for safety. Duffie said he saw Whitelow chasing a man.

Duffie said he saw another man with a gun, but he didn't know who he was. He said he does not know Madison.