20-year-old man facing charges connected to deadly shooting at apartment complex pleads not guilty

TROTWOOD — The 20-year-old man facing charges in connection to a deadly shooting at a Trotwood apartment appeared in court on Tuesday.

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Donte Lamar Cotton Jr. pleaded not guilty to two counts of tampering with evidence, according to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court records.

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Cotton was arrested in connection to a shooting in the 5000 block of Autumn Woods Drive that killed 18-year-old Ja’niyah Hardy.

The shooting occurred on Oct. 22 after 3 p.m.

At the time of his arrest, Montgomery County Jail records indicated that he was facing a preliminary charge of murder.

Cotton’s bond has been set at $75,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 19.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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Shooting Trotwood

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