OCONTO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Manuel Herrera-Hernandez pleaded not guilty Friday for a drug deal-related murder a year ago.
Herrera-Hernandez, 33, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the Feb. 22, 2021, incident on Lade Beach Road in Little Suamico. The victim has only been identified by his initials, “M.G.P.”
A detective testified Friday at a preliminary hearing, and Herrera-Hernandez was ordered to stand trial. An arraignment was immediately held, and the not the guilty plea entered, court records show.
No trial date was set. Herrera-Hernandez returns to court April 29 for a pre-trial conference.
Two counts of bail jumping were dismissed, court records show.
Investigators say they got their break in May when Herrera-Hernandez and a woman were arrested on drug charges during a traffic stop in Green Bay. As police interviewed the woman, she told them Herrera-Hernandez told her that he killed the man. During a later interview, she admitted being in the vehicle when the shooting happened.
In a separate interview the next day, authorities say Herrera-Hernandez admitted picking up the victim at a home in Green Bay, then driving him to a remote location in Little Suamico and shooting him several times. Herrera-Hernandez said the victim owed him money for drugs.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim had gunshot wounds to the left arm, left side, chest, right side, right armpit and back.
“Defendant said he had a gun with him and that he and (the victim) argued and that (the victim) attempted to get the gun from him. Defendant stated that he got out of the driver’s door and that the keys were in the vehicle. The Defendant said he re-entered the vehicle and a physical fight between himself and (the victim) occurred over the gun; Herrera-Hernandez stated that the gun just went off. He then climbed over to the passenger seat and observed (the victim) laying on the ground ‘in pain’. Herrera-Hernandez said that (the victim) had his phone with him so that he could call 911,” the complaint states.
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