Jury hands down murder indictment

A grand jury returned a first-degree murder indictment Friday against Daniel Murrell III, 23, of Clovis, who is accused of inflicting fatal injuries during the robbery and beating of 61-year-old Joe Garcia, according to District Attorney Matt Chandler.

Murrell is accused of being the ringleader behind two muggings in January that injured Garcia and 82-year-old David Shober.

Garcia was attacked while walking home from a convenience store near 11th and Mitchell. He died of injuries from the beating three days later.

Shober said he was attacked after surprising a gunman in his garage, who repeatedly struck him in the head with a handgun.

The man police identified as Murrell's accomplice in both attacks, Terrill Smolar, 20, of Clovis, remains in Curry County jail in lieu of $35,000 facing accessory to robbery charges.

Murrell is being held at the jail without bond.