OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Shannon Christian Bowen, 29, of Ocean Springs died from a stab wound with a Samarai sword that resulted in the arrest of 18-year-old Johnny Romero, according to Jackson County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Cherie Ward.

Romero was originally charged with murder, but Ward says the charge has been changed Saturday morning to second-degree murder.

That is a new charge was created in criminal justice reform by the Legislature in the 2014 session, and it went into effect on July 1. The maximum penalty, if convicted, is 40 years in prison.

Romero and Bowen were neighbors on 12th Street in Gulf Park Estates and Ward said earlier the two were involved in an argument.

Ward said the cause of the argument was not known at this time.

"They are still sorting that out," Ward said. "It's still early in the investigation."

Bowen was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:57 p.m. on Friday.