On Friday, a 25-year-old man was charged in Ellis County District Court on one count of murder in the second degree.

The charges against Derrick Allen Smith, 25, stem from a July 30 incident in the 500 block of East 20th. During the incident, authorities allege Smith and Timothy Isiah Walker, 33, engaged in what was thought to be a mutual fight. Walker was knocked unconscious and after, authorities allege, Smith struck Walker several times to the head, leading to Walker’s death.

Murder in the second degree — “unintentionally but recklessly under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life” — is a level 2 person felony, and carries a potential sentence of 109 to 493 months in prison, depending upon prior criminal history.

Smith remains in the Ellis County jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond.

In a news release Monday, the Ellis County Attorney’s Office expressed sympathy to the family of Walker, and reminded that defendants maintain a presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
RELATED: Original story on July 30 incident.