Charges dropped against Lawrence murder suspect

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The top prosecutor in Douglas County is dropping charges against a man accused of killing his 19-year-old neighbor more than seven years ago. District Attorney Suzanne Valdez has filed a motion to dismiss charges against Rontarus Washington Jr. The Kansas City Star reports that she announced her decision Wednesday. Washington is Black and his case became a rallying cry for racial injustice protesters in Lawrence. Valdez said in a statement that the case languished in the courts long enough to raise questions about the integrity of the criminal justice system itself. The case has faced a series of delays and one mistrial resulting from a hung jury.