NAU Shooter Steven Jones’ First Degree Murder Charge Downgraded To Second-Degree Murder

The Coconino County Attorney’s office says the first-degree murder charge against NAU shooter Steven Jones will be downgraded to second-degree murder. The office made the move Thursday, saying appeals on Jones’ behalf would result in further delays of a retrial. Jones had been charged with first degree murder in the death of Collin Brough and three counts of aggravated assault in connection with the March, 2015 shooting on north campus. Jones admitted to shooting the four, but claims it was in self-defense. Also shot were NAU students Nick Piring, Kyle Zientek and Nick Prato. The last trial ended in a hung jury back in April of 2016. The retrial has been pushed back five times, the latest when Jones’ attorneys removed themselves from the case after it was discovered they once represented Prato. A new trial is set to start January 14th.