The 20-year-old San Diego native, whose given name is James Leon Wilson, remains in custody on $2 million bail. He was charged last month with the shooting death of Kevin Smoot, 29, of Lancaster, Calif.
Wilson appeared in court alongside his attorney, Jerome Bradford, and entered a plea of innocence before Judge Steven Ogden, who scheduled the next preliminary hearing for July 30. A reduction in Wilson's bail was not addressed.
Wilson then turned himself in to authorities on June 12 and was suspended indefinitely from the Grizzly football team a few days later, UM officials said.
According to records filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Wilson was involved in an altercation between Smoot and Smoot's girlfriend, who is Wilson's aunt. Wilson allegedly went to Smoot's home and shot him with a rifle.
“The aunt and victim were having a domestic dispute, and she ended up making a phone call to Jimmy,” said Sgt. Steve Rubino of the Los Angeles County sheriff's homicide bureau. “He apparently came over to be a so-called ‘peacekeeper' and showed up with a rifle.”
Authorities are still searching for the gun, which Rubino initially suspected might be in Missoula. Investigators were also following up on other “items of concern” in town, though Rubino wouldn't elaborate.
A second former University of Montana football player allegedly witnessed the shooting, according to Rubino, who said other witnesses have placed Grizzly cornerback Qwenton J. Freeman, 22, at the scene of the shooting. Authorities traveled to Missoula last month to question UM football players about the homicide.
Freeman, whose mother lives in Lancaster, allegedly accompanied Wilson on the drive back to Missoula.
Although Rubino said Freeman was “uncooperative” during the detectives' visit to Missoula, he has not been charged in any California criminal court and maintains that his silence was based on advice from counsel.
However, Freeman was cut from the football team on June 24, following his arrest on charges of disorderly conduct in downtown Missoula. He was arrested again on June 30 for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.
Wilson was an All-America candidate and second-team Big Sky Conference defensive back for the Griz last year, starting all 14 games. He would be a senior this fall.
Reporter Tristan Scott can be reached at 523-5264 or at tscott@missoulian.com.
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