DANBURY — A city man accused of shooting the father of his niece’s son last month pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges including attempted murder.
Eliseo Soto, 33, remains held in lieu of a $250,000 bond after appearing before Judge Robin Pavia in state Superior Court in Danbury and entering his plea on Monday.
Soto has been in custody since the evening of March 27, when he allegedly shot 24-year-old Jonathan Soto (no relation) outside a home on Rose Street.
The single shot from a .45 caliber handgun traveled through the victim’s upper right arm, into his back and lodged in his spine, police said. Soon after the incident, the victim made his way to an uncle’s home in the Beaver Street housing complex, collapsing on the front stoop.
Eliseo Soto had fled the scene in a green Chevrolet Trailblazer with two other men, police said, though police arrested him within hours of the shooting.
He later confessed to the shooting in an interview with police, according to court documents, explaining the incident stemmed from issues between the two men regarding visitation of the victim’s son, whose mother is Eliseo Soto’s niece.
After entering his plea, Soto had his case continued to May 19.