Arraignment was held Tuesday morning in Todd District Court for the man charged with manslaughter in connection with a fatal shooting from Saturday morning in Guthrie.
Court officials say public defender Darin Higgs entered a not guilty plea to second-degree manslaughter and evidence tampering charges on behalf of 18-year old William O’Bryan of Guthrie and Judge Ken Williams scheduled a preliminary hearing for January 9.
An arrest citation from Guthrie police says O’Bryan, 16-year old Xavion Bell of Guthrie and another juvenile were in the room at a home on Locust Street when O’Bryan allegedly pointed an AR-15 at Bell and pulled the trigger.
A witness told police that O’Bryan didn’t know the gun was loaded.
Police allege O’Bryan tampered with evidence when he removed the shell casing from the scene and placed a handgun near Bell to make it appear the gunshot was self-inflicted.
Marijuana and alcohol are listed as factors in the incident on the report.
Judge Williams left O’Bryan’s bond at $500,000.