William Braylock appeared briefly yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court, where attorney Peter Rost entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf to a murder charge.
The 39-year-old central Toledo man is accused of the March 3 shooting death of Christopher Ross.
He is charged with one count of murder with a gun specification. He faces 18 years to life in prison, if convicted.
He remains in the county jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond.
Authorities said that the 17-year-old victim was at Delaware and Lawrence avenues about 3 p.m. when he exchanged words with Braylock, who lived nearby at 2510 Lawrence.
Braylock is accused of pulling out a gun and shooting twice at the teenager's back - one bullet piercing his heart, the other striking his left leg.
Police said there had been an altercation between the Ross youth of 3015 E St. and Braylock's nephew before the shooting and that it appeared that there had been an ongoing dispute between the victim and the suspect's family.
Members of Braylock's family appeared in Judge Frederick McDonald's courtroom yesterday for the arraignment, but declined to comment after the hearing.
Two days after the shooting, the home where Braylock lived was set afire in what police believe was retaliation. A Molotov cocktail was thrown through a side window and onto a stairwell landing, where it rolled down the stairs and ignited. No one was home at the time.
Judge McDonald set an April 29 trial date.
First Published March 26, 2008, 10:23 a.m.
