Chattanooga: Two teens indicted on murder charges in March slaying

Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Hamilton County grand jury has indicted two 18-year-old men on charges of murder and aggravated assault in the March shooting death of a 25-year-old Chattanooga man.

Edward L. Ryals and Demetrius Bibbs are scheduled to appear in Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern's courtroom on May 6.

Chattanooga police arrested Ryals and Bibbs in connection with the death of Ronald Blackmon Jr., who died March 5 from a .38-caliber gunshot to his head.

The Hamilton County medical examiner's report showed that the bullet entered the side of Blackmon's head, near the left ear.

Police have reported that Blackmon may have been misidentified by the alleged shooters.

Ryals told police he thought Blackmon was a man nicknamed Lil'Rob, a man Ryals thought shot at him two nights before, according to an arrest report.

Blackmon's friend, Jamaal Ashley, told police that gunmen stopped a black and gray vehicle, pulled a gun and fired several shots, one of which struck and killed Blackmon, according to newspaper archives.

Police have previously stated that both Ryals, Bibbs and Blackmon all had gang ties.

Bibbs and Ryals are in custody at the Hamilton County Jail.

For complete details see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.