Alleged Tyler Mall Shooter’s Trial Reset for December

TYLER � The man charged with killing a 23-year-old man outside the Tyler Broadway Square Mall earlier this year has had his trial reset for December 2. Rickey Neal, Jr., 26, appeared in court this week before learning of the latest delay. KETK reports proceedings were originally slated to begin August 5, but the trial was pushed back to October 7 after the district attorney’s office announced it would not accept a plea deal.

Smith County prosecutors will seek to prove Neal murdered Chris Mass, a former Chapel Hill athlete and SFA football player, in the mall parking lot on February 9. Neal (pictured) is also charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after police determined he shot at a second person, Jonathan Lamone Dews.

According to Tyler police, Neal and his girlfriend went to the mall the morning of the shooting to buy shoes at Champs. As they entered the mall, the alleged gunman noticed a group of men, one of whom he reportedly had a prior issue with about “tweeting” at his girlfriend. The two parties began to argue and the incident spilled into the parking lot, where Neal reportedly pulled a gun and allegedly shot Mass dead. He was taken into custody by TPD when they arrived at the scene.