GALLIPOLIS — Gallia County grand jurors indicted Robert S. Comer on a special category felony charge of murder during a session held Thursday, Dec. 17.

Comer, 18, Thurman, pled not guilty during an arraignment held Monday in Gallia County Common Pleas Court. A $1 million 10 percent secured bond was carried over from Gallipolis Municipal Court with an additional bond set at $1,500 10 percent secured.

Comer is charged with fatally shooting his neighbor, Dustin Lennex, 22, in the upper abdomen on Dec. 1 following a verbal argument that turned into a physical altercation and ended with shots fired.

Comer allegedly fired the fatal shot from a 20 gauge shotgun while inside his home as Lennex stood on the front porch. Shortly thereafter, Comer and his cousin, Todd Dixon, who was seated inside the residence, were both shot with a 12 gauge shotgun fired by Lennex’s brother, Cody Lennex. The slug reportedly struck Comer in the hip prior to lodging in Dixon’s wrist.

By the time deputies from the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Greenfield Township residence occupied by Comer, Lennex was already dead, having bled out in the opinion of Gallia County Coroner Dr. Daniel Whiteley.

At the time of the shooting, Lennex was reportedly occupying a mobile home situated on the same property as Comer’s residence.

Comer’s jury trial is tentatively scheduled for 9 a.m. on Feb. 16. He is currently incarcerated in the Gallia County Jail in lieu of bond.