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La Crosse man pleads not guilty for north side homicide, as police describe video showing shooting

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A 28-year-old La Crosse man pleaded not guilty in La Crosse County court Tuesday to first degree intentional homicide, allegedly for shooting another man outside a George Street bar last week. 

Alland

Cody Alland will be scheduled for trial in the Jan. 19 in the death of 42-year-old Justin Betz. 

A police investigator testified Tuesday, describing a security video from Neuie’s Vogue Bar and Grill showing an apparent dispute between Alland and Betz in the alley area near the tavern, leading to gunfire. 

An autopsy showed that Betz died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

La Crosse investigator Andrew Rosenow said the recording shows that as Betz is taking off his jacket, Alland is extending his right arm.

“(Alland) walks within arm’s length, approximately, of Mr. Betz, and then you see Mr. Betz fall to the ground,” Rosenow described.

The defense argued that Betz had challenged Alland to a fight shortly before the shooting.

The investigator also said in court that a gunshot casing found at the shooting scene was a Hornady brand 9mm shell with orange coloring, and matched bullets owned by Alland.

Justin Betz (Contributed photo from La Crosse Police Department)

Rosenow added that that Alland had asked his friend Zachary Devine, who reportedly witnessed the shooting, to help him leave the area.

“He had requested that Zachary help him to get to Rochester,” Rosenow said, “and then Zachary also commented that he had talks of Cody wanting to get to the state of Oregon.”

The investigator also said a police search turned up a passport for Alland, and $1,900 in cash hidden in a car.

La Crosse County Judge Gloria Doyle found probable cause to try Alland for intentional homicide in the shooting. Alland remains in jail with bond set at $1 million cash. His next pre-trial hearing is on April 3.

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.

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