Trial ordered for Carbondale man in shooting death

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. — A southern Illinois man has pleaded not guilty to murder charges tied to a shooting death that may have involved a gun stolen from Carbondale’s police chief.

Eighteen-year-old Matthew Jones entered the pleas Thursday, and a Jackson County judge bound Jones over for trial in the Sept. 14 shooting death of 20-year-old Deaunta Spencer of Carbondale.

Witnesses testified Thursday that Jones shot Spencer in the back after Spencer tried to punch him. Authorities say they found what they believe to be the murder weapon — a semiautomatic handgun — a few blocks from the scene.

Illinois State Police are testing whether the gun was that of Carbondale Police Chief Jody O’Guinn, who reported the weapon stolen in June.

Jones is jailed in Murphysboro on $1 million bond.