Teen pleads not guilty in slaying of Las Vegas mother
LAS VEGAS - A 19-year-old Las Vegas man pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder and other charges in the shooting death of a mother of four in a neighborhood gun battle four weeks ago, reports CBS affiliate KLAS-TV.
Erich Milton Nowsch Jr. spoke in Clark County District Court Thursday only to tell the judge that he understood the charges against him.
The 19-year-old was indicted last week on charges of murder, attempted murder and discharging a weapon in a vehicle in connection with the Feb. 12 shooting of 44-year-old Tammy Meyers. She died two days later, on Valentine's Day.
The shooting was initially characterized as road rage after Meyers' family initially claimed the 44-year-old and her 15-year-old daughter were followed home after a crash and confrontation. Police later said there was no crash and that Meyers went home after the confrontation, picked up her adult son - who was armed - and went looking for the person involved in the confrontation. This resulted in an alleged shootout between Meyers' son and Nowsch.
Police have said Meyers and Nowsch knew each other prior to the shooting and that they lived in the same neighborhood.
Nowsch's attorneys claim the 19-year-old acted in self-defense, reports the station. Police are still seeking Nowsch's alleged getaway driver.