Charges against the accused gunman in the shooting the took the life of an innocent young Akron girl are dismissed.

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh says the lone witness is keeping his lips sealed-- refusing to testify citing threats to his family.

Prosecutor Walsh announced Friday that charges against 26-year-old Vernon Singleton in the shooting death of 11-year old Carmella Holly have been dismissed with the option to refile them at a later date.

“There is no statute of limitation on murder, and my office is hopeful that someone will come forward and be willing to testify,” Walsh added. “Because we dismissed without prejudice, we can refile the charges if witnesses will cooperate in the future.”

Singleton was facing charges including murder and felonious assault.

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh by Akron NewsNow

“There are people in Akron who know exactly what happened the night Carmella Holley was murdered, but they refuse to stand up for an 11-year-old girl and her devastated family,” Walsh said, in a press release.

 “Yes, it is scary to sit in that witness box. And yes, it is easier to swear you saw and know nothing. But someone has to be brave enough to ignore the no-snitching culture and help us seek justice for Carmella Holley and every other victim of “witness-less” crime if we want to end the violence in Akron.”

Holley was killed when a stray bullet struck her while she was watching television in her family apartment at Keys Place in Akron.

Prosecutors say Singleton and 19-year old Terrance Roane, both of Akron, were shooting at each other on the street outside the Holley family apartment when the child was killed.

Roane still faces a list of charges including felonious assault, discharging a firearm, tampering with evidence and carrying a concealed weapon.

Follow AkronNewsNow.com for further updates on this story.

A 26-year old Akron man has officially been charged with two counts of murder, felonious assault and firearms specifications in connection with the stray bullet shooting death of 11-year old Carmella Holley at her mother's apartment on Keys Place in South Akron.

Charges were filed in court today against Vernon Singleton.

Bond was set at $100,000 for Singleton. Carmella Holley was struck by the bullet as she was watching television in the apartment in August.

Akron Police say a feud between Singleton and 18-year old Terrence Roane erupted into a gunfight around the apartment complex. Roane has been indicted on felonious assault and other charges and remains in the Summit County Jail.

The man accused of gunplay at a south Akron apartment complex that killed Carmella Holley has entered a not guilty plea.

Terrance Roane, 18, is facing a list of charges including felonious assault, discharging a firearm, tampering with evedence and carrying a concealed weapon.

Roane was arrested on August 3 following the shooting of 11-year-old Carmella Holley. She was killed by a stray bullet while sitting inside an apartment watching T.V.

Roane is be held in Summit County Jail on a $1 million cash bond. His pretrial is scheduled for September 28.

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that a Grand Jury has indicted Terrance Roane, 18, of Columbus on the following counts:

* Felonious Assault, a second-degree felony, with a firearm specification
* Discharging a Firearm on or Near a Prohibited Premises, a third-degree felony, with a firearm specification
* Tampering with Evidence, a third-degree felony
* Carrying a Concealed Weapon, a fourth-degree felony
 
Roane and Vernon Singleton were arrested following the August 3 shooting of 11-year-old Carmella Holley. Holley was struck and killed by a stray bullet from a gunfight in which Roane and Singleton were allegedly involved.
 
The Summit County Grand Jury found insufficient evidence to indict Singleton. The Akron Police Department and the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office are continuing to seek evidence in the hopes of obtaining an indictment against the person responsible for Carmella’s death. We strongly encourage anyone with information concerning the shooting of Carmella Holley to contact the Akron Police Department.
 

After several shootings struck Summit County over the past several weeks, including the Copley Township shooting rampage, many are beginning to raise questions on how easy it can be to purchase a gun.

SACS Security President Tim Dimoff says it doesn't take long for someone to become an owner.

"They've speed up the process just due to technology. If the pawn shop or gun shop or whatever the store has the ability to directly connect with the federal records, now they have the ability to sell that gun on the spot," says Dimoff.

Mental evaluations are important for the process of obtaining a gun according to Dimoff. He says that an new system needs to be developed in order to determine if someone has had mental issues.

Dimoff says that when someone enters a store to purchase a gun, there should be a mandatary three-day delay to release the gun to the individual.

When someone enters a store to purchase a gun, Dimoff explains that chances are their emotions are running high and they may make irrational decisions. He proposes a mandatary three-day delay to release the gun to the individual in order to act as a diffusing technique.

Around 500 came together at pay their respects to the family of 11-year-old Carmella Holley who was killed last week by a stray bullet while sitting inside an apartment.

The Akron Beacon Journal reports that many who attended the memorial service at Rhoden Memorial Home paid tribute to the 11-year-old by wearing customized T-shirts with messages and Carmella's name.

More than 300 who attended the funeral service shared memories and offered words of encouragement to the family.

Rev. Henry Brunson of Church of God Militant Pillar and Ground of Truth challenged those in attendance to end violence in the community.

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