A Toledo man accused of fatally shooting a woman with whom police said he had a relationship pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning to alternative murder charges as well as multiple drug-related counts.

Jeffrey Townsend, Jr., 35, of the 1700 block of Talbot Street, remained in custody after formally pleading not guilty before Judge Stacy Cook in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to a 13-count indictment that included alternative counts of murder with firearms and repeat violent offender specifications.

He is accused of killing Jacquelen Garza, 36, at his home about 4 a.m. Oct. 19. Police responding to an accident call at that location found her with a gunshot wound to the torso, and she died about 90 minutes later at ProMedica Toledo Hospital.

Along with the murder counts, Townsend is charg

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