MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A teenager arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a rabbi in northeast Miami-Dade appeared in court Wednesday, where charges were formally dropped against him, and his ankle monitor was removed.
According to a close-out memo, prosecutors said there wasn't enough evidence to prove without a doubt that DeAndre Charles was guilty of the Aug. 9, 2014, killing.
File: Close-out memo for DeAndre Charles
"We knew he was innocent the entire time. It was an absolute pleasure to represent him," one of his attorneys told reporters outside the courtroom.
Charles' family and attorneys said they knew he would be vindicated.
"I don't really have any animosity against anybody right now," his mother, Blair Charles, said. "I'm just glad that my son is home with me, and I'm just happy"
Charles was arrested in 2015 on charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery.
Initial evidence that was uncovered by authorities included Charles' partial DNA profile on firearm pieces recovered at the scene and cellphone records that placed one of Charles' phones at the cellphone tower closest to the scene.
However, prosecutors said that DNA was the main piece of evidence and a change in lab protocols forced analysts to conclude that Charles "cannot be included or excluded from the DNA mixture found on the firearm parts," the memo said.
Charles' family attorney said the gun used in the Raksin killing was used the day before, but by someone else.
"We're really happy that they decided to drop the charges, but we feel that people should probably be held accountable, because he's a kid," attorney Adam Goodman said.
Police said Rabbi Joseph Raksin, 60, was targeted in an attempted robbery while walking to a synagogue.
Witnesses told detectives that there were two possible gunmen.
"Regardless of what a closeout memo says, there was no evidence that he was involved in this case, and we told them that," Goodman said.
Charles maintained that he was home sleeping at the time of the shooting.
He was a freshman at Miami Norland Senior High School when he was arrested.
His family said they hope he goes back to school and gets back to a normal life.