Brownsburg man pleads not guilty to murder

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) - A 39-year-old Brownsburg man is facing charges of murder and aggravated battery after pleading not guilty on all charges. He is being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

Matthew Eric Hickman is accused of shooting and killing 51-year-old Mark J. Welch on November 26.

Hickman is scheduled to appear in court for a pre-trial conference on February 4. He is being represented by attorney William Goebel.

Police say they received a call on Nov. 26 reporting that Welsh was being beaten with a gun. When they arrived, they found Welch had been shot and was lying on the ground.

A female witness told police that Hickman had fled the scene in a 1992 Chevrolet pickup truck with a broken window. She also told authorities where Hickman lived, our partners at the Hendricks County Flyer report.

Hickman was arrested at his home around 4:30 a.m. the next day for the murder.

Hickman was formally charged in Montgomery Circuit Court on Nov. 28. He is facing four felony counts that include murder, aggravated battery, battery with a deadly weapon, and reckless homicide.

According to court documents, Hickman and Welch got into an argument while sitting in the cab of Hickman's truck that was parked in Welch's driveway.

Police say Hickman waived his rights and agreed to speak to authorities upon arrest.

Furthermore, in a probable cause affidavit he admitted to the shooting but claimed the gun had discharged accidentally.