Two men found not guilty of murder in Ruddell Road shooting trial

After a three-month trial and a week of deliberations, a Thurston County jury on Thursday found two men not guilty of murder in the 2015 shooting death of a 19-year-old in a Ruddell Road home.

Dallas F. Martin, 20, and Andre D. Wiley, 23, were each found not guilty on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree attempted robbery.

Prosecutors had alleged Martin and Wiley went to the home to buy marijuana, argued with at least two men and then Martin shot in the direction of one of them, but hit Alex Thomas-Anderson instead.

The jury could not reach a verdict on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree assault and Thurston County Superior Court Judge Christine Schaller declared a mistrial on those charges.

The prosecutor said he intends to refile those charges Monday.

Martin was found guilty only of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Schaller ordered both men to remain in jail but said she would be willing to consider reducing Wiley’s bail at a later date. Martin also is being held on charges out of Yakima County and Los Angeles.

Lawyers on both sides had no comment on the verdicts.

As Schaller read the verdicts, family and friends of the defendants sighed with relief, while on the other side of the courtroom sat the family of Thomas-Anderson.

On her way out of the courthouse, his mother, Shannan Anderson of Lacey, said this was not the end, referring to the possibility of another trial.

“Nothing is going to bring my son back,” she said.

This story was originally published July 31, 2018 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Two men found not guilty of murder in Ruddell Road shooting trial."