Fall River Suspect Pleads Not Guilty To Fatal Shooting

A Fall River man accused of fatally shooting another man during a drug transaction, then taking his vehicle to a car wash to try and clean away the blood, has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Hiram Gonzalez was ordered held without bail at his arraignment Wednesday in Fall River Superior Court. Prosecutors say the 44-year-old Gonzalez met Brian Januario in March 2011 for a drug transaction.

Authorities allege Gonzalez shot Januario in his car, pushed the body out, then went to a car wash to get rid of the blood. Authorities say they still detected the 24-year-old Januario's blood in Gonzalez's car.

Gonzalez's attorney says there's no proof his client shot Januario. Gonzalez says he loaned his car to relatives the night of the slaying.