Fayette man charged with murder

FAYETTE, Mo. (KMIZ)

Howard County prosecutors have charged a Fayette man with murder in connection with an alleged fatal drug deal.

Alfredo Hicks Jr., 21, is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Monday afternoon shooting that killed John Turner of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Hicks has been in the Howard County Jail since Tuesday night without bond.

Howard County authorities said earlier this week that a caller reported someone had been shot in their vehicle in the 200 block of South Linn Street. The caller provided a description of a person leaving the scene afterward.

Police found Turner dead from a gunshot wound to the head in a vehicle, according to court documents.

Fayette police connected Hicks to the crime because a cellphone registered to Hicks had been texting with Turner up until the time of the shooting, according to a probable cause statement written by Fayette police chief Jeff Oswald. Police then pinged Hicks' phone and tracked him down at a Fayette home, the statement says.

Hicks told investigators that he had arranged a marijuana purchase with Turner and shot Turner in the head with a .380-caliber handgun during the deal, according to the probable cause statement.

Hicks was charged and served with a warrant Wednesday, according to online court records.

Check back for more information on this developing story.