A scheduled hearing in Hamilton County Sessions Court for a 74-year-old man who police say shot and killed his girlfriend’s adult son was moved on Monday to April.
Alfred Copeland is charged with criminal homicide in the death of 34-year-old Rickey Shell but was freed on a $50,000 bond last week. Police arrested Copeland after they responded to a call of a possible shooting at a home at 3805 Arrowrock Road.
When police arrived they found Shell on the kitchen floor with two gunshot wounds to the stomach. His mother, Helen Shell, 65, told police she and her son had been arguing when Copeland tried to intervene.
Shell refused to leave and continued to yell at the couple, according to court documents. After Shell began walking toward Copeland, he said he pulled a gun out of his pocket and fired, according to court records.
Records show two previous speeding violations but no other criminal history for Copeland in Hamilton County.
Shell had an extensive criminal history, including charges of theft, drugs, assault and weapons-related charges dating back to 1993. Helen Shell told police that her son had previously assaulted Copeland.