Charges reduced in Buckhead mall shootings

ATLANTA - Charges were reduced Tuesday for a man accused of fatally shooting two Marietta men in a parking lot at the Phipps Plaza mall in Buckhead. <br> <br> Muhammad Hussein, 25, now faces a manslaughter charge instead of murder, according to officials. Hussein&#39;s lawyer has said his client acted in self-defense. <br> <br> The charges were reduced at a preliminary hearing for Hussein and Steven Timmermon, 25, also accused of killing Jonathan Rice, 20, and Stephen Strickland, 19, both of Marietta. <br> <br> Authorities believe a drug deal was involved in the May 2 shooting. Rice was shot several times and was found near a car. Strickland was found near an entrance to Saks Fifth Avenue. Investigators found four or five bags of marijuana near the dead men. <br> <br> Murder charges against Timmermon were not reduced despite testimony Tuesday that he did not shoot anyone. <br> <br> Atlanta homicide Detective Marchel Walter said Timmermon should be charged with murder because he drove the gunman to the mall and moved one of the victims out of his car before fleeing the scene.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/6/193902