Manslaughter charge dropped against teen

A judge has dismissed an involuntary manslaughter charge against a 16-year-old girl who was holding a gun when it fired, killing her boyfriend who had been fighting another teen over her affection.

Meredith Kandies still faces weapons charges in the shooting of Jeremy McMillan. But Randolph County District Court Judge William Neely ruled prosecutors didn't present enough evidence to show Kandies intended to kill the 16-year-old McMillan.

Kandies, the daughter of a man convicted in one of Asheboro's most shocking murders, was holding the gun McMillan brought to the fight outside an elementary school December 12, 2009. The gun fired by accident as McMillan tried to wrestle it back after he lost the fight, according to testimony.

Forensic tests confirmed the 9 mm Glock pistol recovered near the shooting was discharged in a struggle, police said.

“She's pretty much in shock,” Kandies' attorney, Jonathan Megerian, said after the hearing. “She was 16, in love with this guy. It is very, very sad.”