Moberly man pleads not guilty in death of neighbor

MOBERLY, Mo. (AP) — A 79-year-old Moberly man pleaded not guilty in a shooting that killed his 49-year-old neighbor in July. Jerry Fitzwater is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Mitchell Nickerson. Court records say Fitzwater told police that the shooting occurred because he believed Nickerson was selling drugs to children and he decided to take matter into his own hands. Nickerson died a few days after the shooting. Moberly Police Department Chief Troy Link told KMIZ-TV after the shooting that his department had previously spoken with Fitzwater and asked for evidence to support his claims.