Georgia's Supreme Court says a Macon man whose first murder trial ended in a mistrial should not be tried again.
Jedarrius Meadows' lawyers argue that a re-trial would violate his Fifth Amendment right against "double jeopardy" -- or being tried twice for the same crime.
According to a Georgia Supreme Court summary of the case, Meadows' lawyers argue that the trial judge declared a mistrial too soon.
In February 2014, Meadows and two other men were charged in the fatal shooting of Damian Clayton at the Macon Little League Field on Anthony Road.
Meadows was 17 at the time of the shooting and was arrested at high school.
A year and a half later, a Bibb County jury begin deliberating Meadows' case after a three-day trial.
After about two hours, jurors told the judge they were having trouble reaching a verdict, and he told them to try again.
That same afternoon, after a bailiff told him that the jury arguments had turned heated, the judge called them back and dismissed them.
Meadows' lawyers argue that the judge acted improperly and should have tried other methods to encourage the jury to reach a verdict.
Bibb County prosecutors argue that the judge was concerned about the safety of the jurors. They say the judge acted appropriately.
But the Supreme Court Monday wrote that "contentious" jury discussions are not a sufficient reason for declaring a mistrial. They wrote that the judge had other options, such as giving the jury a break, telling them to keep their talks civil and respectful or trying to determine which jurors were at fault.
They wrote that the court "abused its discretion" in declaring a mistrial.
Meadows has been in the Bibb County jail for the past four years.
The Supreme Court wrote that he should be released immediately after the local court is notified of their ruling.