Shermaine Latwon MenifeeProsecutors are dropping murder and robbery charges against a 35-year-old Chattanooga man after DNA taken from bloody clothing was linked to another man.
Hamilton County prosecutor Cameron Williams filed a motion to dismiss without prejudice charges of first-degree murder, attempted especially aggravated robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon against Shermaine Latwon Menifee , who had been charged in the October 2012 shooting death of Leslie Townsend.
Menifee’s trial was scheduled to begin Tuesday in Hamilton County Criminal Court.
Williams wouldn’t comment on the case except to say that the Townsend investigation is “open and ongoing.”
Shortly after the Oct. 8, 2012 crime police said that Townsend was seated in a car in his mother’s driveway at 2302 E. 14th St. shortly after 11 p.m. when he was shot at close range.