Murder charges upheld against Phil Campbell man

A Phil Campbell man accused of shooting and killing an elderly man who used a wheelchair for mobility was indicted by a recent grand jury.

Jerry Ronald Mills, 55, 194 Block Church Road, Phil Campbell, was indicted for murder by the March session of the Franklin County grand jury for the Oct. 13, 2010, killing of 70-year-old Robert Leroy Presley.

According to authorities, officers with the Russellville Police Department responded to a 911 call that someone had been shot at 701 Hawkins Rd. in Russellville, which was Presley’s residence.

When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered Presley had been shot once and was already deceased.

The .40 caliber pistol used in the shooting was retrieved at the scene.

According to Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett, Mills had originally come to the residence to ask Presley’s roommate when he planned to return an antique table the roommate had borrowed from a friend of Mills.

Presley reportedly told Mills to leave the residence and after they both went outside, a confrontation ensued.

Reports indicate that during the confrontation, Mills pulled the .40 caliber pistol from his vehicle and shot at Presley several times, striking him once and killing him.

Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said Mills’ case will be set for arraignment on June 29.

Rushing added the case should then be placed on the July 28 pre-trial docket and the August 15 criminal trial docket.

Mills remains in custody at the Franklin County Jail without bail.