Fayette man pleads guilty to 2019 killing

FAYETTE, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Fayette man pleaded guilty to multiple felonies on Wednesday in connection with a homicide late last year.

Alfredo Hicks Jr. is accused of a shooting that killed John Turner, 29, of Poplar Bluff on Dec. 30, 2019.

Online court records show he pleaded guilty to counts of second-degree murder, armed criminal action and two other felony crimes after Howard County prosecutors originally charged him with first-degree murder.

The court records say Hicks' sentencing hearing was set for Oct. 7.

Howard County authorities said a caller reported someone had been shot in their car in the 200 block of S. Linn Street. Court documents say police found Turner with a single gunshot wound to the head.

Investigators were able to connect Hicks to the crime because he had been texting Turner prior to the shooting, court documents said.

Police said Hicks admitted to killing Turner after he agreed to buy marijuana from the man.

Howard County Jail records say Hicks was booked into the jail on Dec. 31. As of Thursday, he was still in jail custody.