VIDEO: Albuquerque Officers to Face 2nd-Degree Murder Charges

An Albuquerque Police Department officer and a former officer will no longer face first-degree murder charges. The special prosecutor appointed to handle the shooting death of James Boyd has re-filed charges against the police officers who killed the homeless camper, reports KRQE.

Monday, special prosecutor Randi Mcginn's office announced they will pursue second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, and aggravated assault charges against the two.

For the officers, it's a critical development because while they still face charges they no longer face the possibility of a life sentence. Instead, she filed second-degree murder charges, which implies the two officers knew that they would likely kill James Boyd when they fired and that Boyd hadn't given them what the law calls "sufficient provocation."

One faces a charge of aggravated battery and the other faces a new charge of aggravated assault. Both officers also could face voluntary or involuntary manslaughter charges, which means the killing was unnecessary or negligent. They will go before a judge for a preliminary hearing during the first week of August to decide which charges, if any, they should face.