Holyoke man arraigned in slaying of brother

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Charges against a Holyoke man accused of killing his brother have been downgraded.

Twenty-year-old Damion Johnson had been charged with murder for the November shooting of 19-year-old Jefforey Johnson, but on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter in Hampden Superior Court.

The elder brother was granted $5,000 bail.

Police say Damion Johnson shot Jefforey Johnson in the home the younger brother shared with their mother.

The Republican of Springfield reports that the elder brother's lawyer said the shooting was an accident. Attorney Calvin Carr says the brothers often played with a gun owned by the victim and his client thought it was unloaded. He requested no bail.

Their mother, 45-year-old Joanne Couture, is charged with interfering with the police investigation.

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