The death penalty will not be sought in the shooting death of a man at a downtown Mitchell residence in January. In Davison County Court on Friday, State’s Attorney Jim Miskimins says he had thorough discussions with the family of the alleged victim regarding whether Jose Morales Acevedo should face the death penalty. The state also is in favor of separate trials for the three defendants in the case. Attorneys are waiting on ballistics evidence and the results of scientific tests that were performed.
Acevedo and Luis Perez-Melendez are accused of going to a North Main Street residence on the night of January 9th to steal a handgun from 38-year old Adalberto Ferrer-Machado. Ferrer-Machado was shot and killed. A third person, Yanitza Ortiz, has also been charged in the case. A status hearing for Acevedo was set for August 18th.