Suspect In Shooting Of Ky. Mayor Appears In Court

Published January 24, 2012 11:18PM (EST)

HICKMAN, Ky. (AP) — A 30-year-old man charged with using a shotgun to kill the mayor of a small Kentucky town remains in jail without bond after his initial court appearance.

The court in Fulton County on Tuesday entered an automatic not guilty plea for Thomas Joseph "Tommy" Lattus on a charge of murder. He's accused of the Monday morning shooting of 68-year-old Hickman Mayor Charles Murphy.

Police Chief Tony Grogan says Lattus walked into a police station early Monday and said he'd shot Murphy, who had dated his adoptive mother.

Grogan said Lattus broke into the side door of Murphy's house and killed him.

Lattus is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 31. A defense attorney hired by Lattus' family says he's spoken only briefly to the suspect.


By Associated Press

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