Charges against the accused gunman in the shooting the took the life of an innocent young Akron girl are dismissed.

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh says the lone witness is keeping his lips sealed-- refusing to testify citing threats to his family.

Prosecutor Walsh announced Friday that charges against 26-year-old Vernon Singleton in the shooting death of 11-year old Carmella Holly have been dismissed with the option to refile them at a later date.

“There is no statute of limitation on murder, and my office is hopeful that someone will come forward and be willing to testify,” Walsh added. “Because we dismissed without prejudice, we can refile the charges if witnesses will cooperate in the future.”

Singleton was facing charges including murder and felonious assault.

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh by Akron NewsNow

“There are people in Akron who know exactly what happened the night Carmella Holley was murdered, but they refuse to stand up for an 11-year-old girl and her devastated family,” Walsh said, in a press release.

 “Yes, it is scary to sit in that witness box. And yes, it is easier to swear you saw and know nothing. But someone has to be brave enough to ignore the no-snitching culture and help us seek justice for Carmella Holley and every other victim of “witness-less” crime if we want to end the violence in Akron.”

Holley was killed when a stray bullet struck her while she was watching television in her family apartment at Keys Place in Akron.

Prosecutors say Singleton and 19-year old Terrance Roane, both of Akron, were shooting at each other on the street outside the Holley family apartment when the child was killed.

Roane still faces a list of charges including felonious assault, discharging a firearm, tampering with evidence and carrying a concealed weapon.

Follow AkronNewsNow.com for further updates on this story.

A 26-year old Akron man has officially been charged with two counts of murder, felonious assault and firearms specifications in connection with the stray bullet shooting death of 11-year old Carmella Holley at her mother's apartment on Keys Place in South Akron.

Charges were filed in court today against Vernon Singleton.

Bond was set at $100,000 for Singleton. Carmella Holley was struck by the bullet as she was watching television in the apartment in August.

Akron Police say a feud between Singleton and 18-year old Terrence Roane erupted into a gunfight around the apartment complex. Roane has been indicted on felonious assault and other charges and remains in the Summit County Jail.

Akron police are investigating a shooting on Akron's east side where 41 rounds were fired at a house Thursday night.

The shooting happened around 8 p.m. in the 1100 block of Arnold Avenue.

Police say the a bullet grazed the head of 23-year-old Naisha Finklea's head while her 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son were inside the home.

The children were not inured but the mother was taken to a local hospital where she was treated and released.

Police responded to the shooting after hearing gunshots in the area. Several men were found leaving the area when police arrived.

Police arrested Sheldon Bell, 21, Steve Johnson, 30, and 26-year-old Vernon Singleton.

Authorities say Singleton is the brother of 28-year-old Erica Singleton was was found dead at a Grant Street house Thursday morning.

Prosecutors unsuccessfully tried to indict Singleton for his alleged role in the shooting death of 11-year-old Carmella Holley.

Holley was struck by a stray bullet in her south Akron apartment in August.

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Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that a Grand Jury has indicted Terrance Roane, 18, of Columbus on the following counts:

* Felonious Assault, a second-degree felony, with a firearm specification
* Discharging a Firearm on or Near a Prohibited Premises, a third-degree felony, with a firearm specification
* Tampering with Evidence, a third-degree felony
* Carrying a Concealed Weapon, a fourth-degree felony
 
Roane and Vernon Singleton were arrested following the August 3 shooting of 11-year-old Carmella Holley. Holley was struck and killed by a stray bullet from a gunfight in which Roane and Singleton were allegedly involved.
 
The Summit County Grand Jury found insufficient evidence to indict Singleton. The Akron Police Department and the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office are continuing to seek evidence in the hopes of obtaining an indictment against the person responsible for Carmella’s death. We strongly encourage anyone with information concerning the shooting of Carmella Holley to contact the Akron Police Department.