The two suspects who faced charges for their alleged involvement in the shooting death of Jackson State University student Jaylen Burns have been released from custody, local Jackson station WKRG reports.

During a hearing on Monday (Nov, 13) Hinds County Judge James Bell ruled that there was not sufficient evidence that connected Jamison Kelly, Jr., as an accessory to the crime.

He was on the ground when the shots took place. We don’t have evidence that Kelly knew [someone] with him picked up a gun or fired a gun, or evidence that [the shot] that hit Mr. Burns,” Bell said. “It fails to meet the minimum standard.”

According to the report, Kelly was said to have driven Joshua Brown away from the scene of the crime. On Friday (Nov, 10), Brown was released from the Raymond Detention Center.

Bell also noted that although Kelly was released from custody, the investigation is ongoing and that the ruling does exempt him from facing additional charges in the future.

Jerry Campbell, Kelly’s lawyer said the charges against his client “were not dismissed and could be brought back up through a grand jury indictment.” 

Burns, an industrial technology major from Chicago, was shot on October 15  while at the University Pointe Apartments. He was transported to the hospital from campus where he was later pronounced dead.

According to his father Jason Burns, he was trying to break up a fight when the fatal shooting occurred.

"He wasn't a violent kid; he didn't know anything about guns or fighting or gangs, you know, anything about that," Jason Burns said. "He just – I don't know, I never felt like this before in my life."

Jaylen Burns was 22 years old and set to graduate in the spring of 2024.

On October 18, Jones College Campus Police arrested Brown and charged him with murder and illegal possession of a firearm on school property. Kelly was charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

"We pray that this will bring a sense of relief to the family, but we know the pain of our sorrow and of losing a loved one will take time," said JSU Acting President Elayne Hayes-Anthony at the time of the arrests.

JSU Police Chief Herman Horton released a statement confirming that law enforcement officials are still investigating the case.

“The JSU Department of Public Safety will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is achieved in this matter,” Horton said.