MARSHALL COUNTY, MS (abc24.com) - Murder suspect Rico Fleming is talking and talking and talking.
Fleming was in court in Marshall County, Mississippi on Thursday, January 12th. He's one of three men charged with the Christmas Day drive-by shooting that killed 16-year-old Derica Patterson and injured three others.
He was arrested by U.S. Marshals at his cousin's home in St. Louis on Tuesday. Fleming had plenty to say on his way into the courtroom, telling abc24.com everything from he didn't do it, to apologizing to Derica Patterson's family, even claiming he hasn't been on the run since Christmas.
"I'm innocent. I want to send my condolences to the family. I want to ask for a fair trial," Fleming said as he walked into Marshall County court surrounded by sheriff's deputies.
He was outspoken and talking freely until asked more about the crime he's accused of committing.
"I don't want to talk about that," he said.
As to where he spent the past two and a half weeks?
"I didn't run," Fleming told abc24.com.
He said he'd been in Mississippi. When asked how he got to St. Louis then, the murder suspect had no answer.
Inside the court room, Sheriff Kenny Dickerson asked that Fleming not be given a bond, calling him an extreme flight risk.
"Just a safeguard to keep a very dangerous individual in jail," Dickerson said.
The judge set bond at a million dollars and appointed a public defender to handle Fleming's defense.
The 22-year-old is charged with murder and five counts of drive-by shooting.
He faces life in prison, but said this as he walked shackled and handcuffed out of court.
"When I'm found innocent I want ya'll to come do me the same way," he said. "When I beat these charges."
Derica Patterson's family missed Fleming's court appearance by minutes.
"I really wanted to look him in the eyes and try to see person who can sit there and do things like that. Who can shoot into a car of innocent people," Carol Dye said. "He ran because he's guilty. Ain't no way he's innocent. He would have been here trying to explain it all."
As for those condolences, Fleming offered?
"I got some condolences for him," Dye says. "His life sentence. His life sentence without parole."
The sheriff's department is filing a separate court petition to have Fleming's million dollar bond revoked. That should be complete in the next 24 hours.
Fleming is due back in court on February 29th.
