MAGNOLIA — A tentative trial date of April 27 has been set for the second suspect in a Aug. 24, 2014, shooting at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building in Magnolia.
Brandon Thomas Hobdy, 23, of Garland, Texas, and Wayne Alton Payton II, 24, of McNeil were both killed in the altercation.
Byron Lavell Dunn, 21, of Magnolia is charged with capital murder and attempted first-degree murder in the case.
He appeared before Circuit Judge David W. Talley Jr. in a Columbia County courtroom on Thursday with his attorney, Jack Kearney of Little Rock.
Kearney said the results of a mental evaluation had been submitted, and the defense had nothing else to offer. Kearney said he had considered asking for further evaluation but decided against it.
Deputy prosecutor Ryan Phillips said the state will stand on the evaluation that has been filed.
Talley said that, based on a report from the State Hospital, Dunn is competent to proceed to trial.
Kearney said the defense is “about at a point where we are ready to set a date for trial,” adding that attorney Ronald L. Davis of Little Rock will be joining as co-counsel.
The trial is expected to last two days but could go into a third day.
Dunn was arrested Aug. 25, 2014. Another suspect, Timothy Jamarcus L. Johnson, 23, of Camden was arrested Aug. 28, 2014.
Johnson stood trial in July on charges of first-degree murder. Midway through the trial, the state dropped the first-degree murder charge when Johnson pleaded guilty to committing a terroristic act and
was released from jail.