The man accused of shooting and killing a man in broad daylight in St. Joseph earlier this month made his first court appearance today.

Charles Leroy Coats Jr., 32 of St. Joseph is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Jason Ginn, 32 of St. Joseph.

According to court documents on August 1 witnesses saw Coats on the front porch of his residence get into a verbal argument with Ginn and as Ginn started walking away witnesses said Coats pulled a handgun and began firing.  An autopsy found Ginn suffered four gunshot wounds to various parts of his body and died from a fatal gunshot wound to his head.

Police said Coats fled the area after the shooting.  He surrendered to law enforcement in Columbia, Mo. five days later.