Criminal charges have been dropped against a Sioux City man who was accused in the shooting of his uncle at the victim’s home in the Morningside neighborhood on September 9th. Forty-year-old Eric Riley was charged with attempted murder and first-degree burglary in the shooting of 66-year-old Ben Steffe.

Police say Riley is a relative of the victim and the two were also business associates. Riley was scheduled to appear in court this morning, but the Woodbury County attorney filed a motion to dismiss the charges. Court documents state there is not currently sufficient evidence in the case and further investigation is needed.

Charges against Riley, who was released from the Woodbury County Jail Thursday afternoon, could be refiled in the future. Steffe was shot twice in the chest and remains hospitalized, but his condition is not being released.

(Reporting by Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City)