Change of venue request granted in murder trial

A Cape Girardeau man charged last month with the shooting death of 31-year-old Billy Jones had his case approved for a change of venue to Butler County.

Jibril Walton, 25, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Aug. 18 shooting death of Jones, 31, of Cape Girardeau.

The incident took place at the National Guard Armory parking lot in Cape Girardeau.

A telephone call to Walton's attorney, Brian Keller, Tuesday afternoon for comment was not returned.

Walton's preliminary hearing was held Sept. 17 in Jackson. He remains in custody on $1 million bond.

During police interviews, Walton admitted to shooting Jones but said he was actually aiming at Dartanyus Harris, a passenger in Jones' car, investigators said.

A bleeding Jones was driven by Harris to Southeast Missouri Hospital, where he told police Walton shot him. He died early the next morning.

No date has been set for the suspect's first appearance in the Butler County Courthouse in Poplar Bluff.