Man arrested in Chattanooga shooting was free on bond in separate death

A 19-year-old Chattanooga man arrested in connection with a shooting Tuesday night was free on bond from murder charges in a separate shooting.

Police arrested Demetrius Bibbs on Wednesday for a shooting at 2601 Fourth Ave. that injured 28-year-old Guy Wilkerson. Police believe the shooting is gang-related, according to a news release.

Bibbs has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Last month, he received probation for a 2-year-old robbery charge.

And next week, he's scheduled in court in connection with the March 2011 killing of Ronald Blackmon Jr., who died from a .38-caliber gunshot to his head. Bibbs and Edward Ryals, 19, were indicted in April 2011 on murder charges in Blackmon's death.

Bibbs, now in jail under a $500,000 bond, is scheduled to appear before Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern on Tuesday on the Blackmon and Wilkerson charges.

Donna Miller, Bibbs' attorney in the Blackmon case, said Wednesday that he had been released on his own recognizance in the Blackmon case because of his limited involvement in the shooting.

"It was revealed at the preliminary hearing that [Bibbs] was a driver and had no knowledge the shooting was going to take place," she said. "He is really probably more of a witness."

At the time, police reported that Ryals may have mistaken Blackmon for someone else who he believed had shot at him two nights before. Ryals is being held on a $500,000 bond in Hamilton County Jail.

Court records show that Bibbs pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery charge from October 2010 and was sentenced to three years, which was suspended to be served on probation.