Hannah Carroll, Campus Carrier Staff Writer

Andrew Horton, the former roommate of slain Berry student Joseph McDaniel, was indicted April 8 for tampering with evidence, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The Floyd County Grand Jury indicted Horton for the removal of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia from his apartment at Summerstone Apartments, where McDaniel was shot, to his neighbor’s apartment. The police were not called and notified of the shooting until 45 minutes to an hour after the incident occurred, according to the Ledger-Enquirer of Columbus.

Horton was in the apartment when McDaniel, Ricket Carter III and Troy Cokley were present to complete a drug deal involving marijuana the day of the shooting, Oct. 28, 2017.

Security footage shows Carter leaving the apartment before the shooting occurred, according to attorney Stacey Jackson, which left Horton, McDaniel and Cokley in the apartment.

According to Horton’s testimony, he heard an argument between McDaniel and Cokley and retrieved his gun that was hidden in the couch of the living room. When he entered the kitchen, Cokley was aiming a gun at McDaniel.

According to the Ledger-Enquirer, Cokley and McDaniel struggled over the gun, while Horton moved towards the door and ran out when he heard the gunshot.

Horton went to his neighbor’s apartment before returning to the apartment 20 minutes later to move the marijuana, after which the police were called. The gun that fired the fatal shot to McDaniel was never recovered, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Carter and Cokley were both found not guilty of all charges on Oct. 5, 2018. At the trial, attorneys brought video evidence that shows Carter leaving the apartment before the shooting. Evidence also suggested that the main witness, Horton, may not have seen the shot that killed McDaniel.