Charges Filed in Lakes Area Homicide

A man is behind bars charged in the murder of another man on Wednesday.

Court documents indicate 36-year-old Mitchell Lee Hale of Branson has allegedly shot and killed the victim on Cannon Ball Loop late Wednesday morning. He and the victim, identified as James Anderson, had been in a verbal dispute and had been contacted by law enforcement earlier in the day. According to the probable cause statement, deputies had advised both men to stay away from each other, but later the dispute continued with Anderson following Hale into his apartment where Anderson was eventually shot. The statement goes on to say that Anderson had a knife in his pocket but did not apparently pose any serious threat prior to Mitchell shooting him. \

Mitchell is charged with 2nd Degree Murder and is being held without bond in the Taney County Jail.