SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - A Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting death of another man last year.
Roderick Banks, 36, entered the written plea Friday in Woodbury County District Court, the Sioux City Journal reported. He’s been charged with the murder count and a count being a felon in possession of a firearm for the Nov. 1 shooting death of 33-year-old Solomon Blackbird near Park Place Apartments in Sioux City.
Prosecutors have said Banks confronted Blackbird and Blackbird’s girlfriend outside the apartment complex and shot Blackbird once in the chest. Police believe the shooting was related to a drug deal.
Investigators recovered a handgun they believe was the murder weapon.
Authorities said Banks left town after the shooting and was arrested Feb. 8 in Alabama.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.