Suspect in Professor’s Murder Previously Faced Gun Charge, Received Probation

Suspect in Professor’s Murder Previously Faced Gun Charge, Received Probation

The man suspected of killing a retired Auburn University professor last weekend had previously been arrested in 2023 on a gun-related felony charge — a crime that carried a potential sentence of two to 10 years in prison if convicted. However, court records show that prosecutors later dropped the felony charge.

Instead, the suspect was convicted of lesser misdemeanor offenses and sentenced to 12 months of unsupervised probation. No jail time was served.

The decision to reduce the charges and forgo supervision is now under renewed scrutiny following the professor’s tragic death. Critics argue it may reflect larger gaps in the criminal justice system’s ability to address repeat offenders and prevent future violence.

Law enforcement officials have not yet released further details about the professor’s killing or whether the suspect had additional prior offenses. The investigation remains ongoing, and charges in the current case are expected to be filed soon.