A Mullins man will be tried next month in the death of Kendall Williams of Mullins, who was attacked and killed last year in a home near Conway.

Christopher Leron Cooper was arraigned Thursday morning at the Georgetown County Courthouse and will be tried for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and murder, said Horry County Assistant Solicitor Lauree Richardson.

Richardson said Cooper had been offered a deal to plead guilty to the assault, which could have carried a sentence from 0 to 20 years, but the offer was declined. She said Cooper will go to trial Nov. 5 at the Horry County Courthouse.

In April 2011, Horry County police found Williams, 22, around 4:15 a.m. in a home on Chanticleer Village Drive, said Sgt. Robert Kegler, police spokesman. Williams, who was found unconscious and not breathing, died while being treated at Conway Medical Center about an hour after officers responded to the incident.

Cooper and Williams were attending a party at the home where the attack occurred, Kegler said. After an investigation, detectives determined Cooper attacked Williams, who fell during the assault and then was repeatedly kicked and punched.

Police took Cooper into police custody when they arrived at the house, Kegler said. Witnesses told police that Williams was asleep on a couch in the home’s living room when Cooper assaulted him.

It was unclear why the altercation began, Kegler said.

Preliminary autopsy results showed no weapon was involved in the incident, according to Horry County Deputy Coroner Tony Hendrick.

A background check through the State Law Enforcement Division showed Cooper had no prior arrests or criminal charges.

Contact VICKI GROOMS at 443-2401 or follow her at Twitter.com/TSN_VickiGrooms.