NEW MADRID, Mo. (AP) - A man was arraigned Wednesday on charges that he fatally shot a southeast Missouri convenience store clerk, and investigators say lottery tickets he's accusing of stealing ultimately led to his arrest when he tried to cash them in.
Deion Martin, 21, made his first court appearance Wednesday in New Madrid County on one count each of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery, and two counts of armed criminal action.
A judge assigned him to be represented by a public defender, who did not immediately return calls later Wednesday seeking comment about the case.
According to a probable cause statement by New Madrid County sheriff's Sgt. Danny Ware, Martin on May 18 followed 59-year-old Brenda Smith and one of her co-workers into the D and L One Stop in Parma when the women were opening the business for the day.
Investigators allege Martin held a gun to Smith's head and demanded she open the safe before shooting her in the head. Martin then demanded lottery tickets from the other store worker and fled with them, Ware alleged.
Six days later, according to Ware's statement, a man later identified as Martin was turned away from a convenience store where he tried to cash in the lottery tickets that investigators and the Missouri Lottery Commission determined had been taken during the deadly Parma robbery.
Martin later was arrested in the St. Louis area and, according to the probable cause statement, admitted firing a gun during the reported robbery of the Parma store.
Authorities say a search of Martin's home uncovered the gun, lottery tickets and clothing matching the description of the robber's attire.
Martin remains jailed without bond and is next scheduled to appear in court June 18.