SCOTTSVILLE — An Allen County man accused of fatally shooting the mother of his child made his first court appearance Wednesday.

Ethan Reid, 23, of Scottsville was arraigned in Allen District Court on a charge of murder (domestic violence), with a not guilty plea being entered on his behalf.

Reid was arrested Oct. 3 in connection with the death of 20-year-old Kayla Hodges and is in Allen County Detention Center under a $1 million cash bond.

According to Reid’s arrest citation written by Detective William Francis of the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, Reid drove to 395 Huff Lane, Scottsville around 5:25 p.m. on Oct. 3, pulled his car up to the porch steps and went inside the residence.

Reid’s mother, April Riley, told law enforcement that Reid was armed with a rifle of some kind and shoved Riley out the back door. 

According to the arrest citation, at some point after coming back into the house and getting the 7-month-old daughter Reid and Hodges have in common, Riley was shoved against the wall by Reid.

Reid then followed Hodges to the front door, according to law enforcement.

“When Mrs. Riley was in the hallway she heard a loud pop and when she got to the living room area she saw the victim, Kayla Hodges, falling out the front door and (Reid) with the gun,” the arrest citation states. “(Reid) then made a comment to his mother about killing himself (never mentioned to law enforcement by Mr. Reid) and went out with the gun.”

A neighbor, Brian Groves, came over to the residence and struggled with Reid before sitting on him until police arrived, according to law enforcement.

Detective John Rose of the Scottsville Police Department, who also responded to the Huff Lane address, said that Hodges was found shot once in the back on the porch of the mobile home she shared with Reid’s mother, and that Reid was “pretty well intoxicated” at the time of the shooting.

The baby was not injured in the incident.

At 4:59 p.m. Oct. 3, a post was made on a Facebook account purported to belong to Reid.

“Sorry guys. I’m truly not this bad of a person. I’ve been pushed to this point over of time. I’m dissapointed in myself too. I could have been so much more. It’s so sad. I’m a terrible person overall. Learn from my mistakes. Just know this was never my intentions. I love all of you. I’m just not meant to be happy. Ever. I’m sorry. I love you all. Xoxo- Ethan Reid <3,” the post states.

Reid’s attorney, Frank Wakefield, said after the arraignment that he was aware of the post on the Facebook site.

Asked if he was aware of any other evidence that might speak to Reid’s state of mind on the night of the incident, Wakefield said he would have to review the statement Riley gave to law enforcement.

“My understanding is his mother was present when all this happened,” Wakefield said. “Once I get to see her statement, that would clarify what happened.”

Allen District Judge Martha Harrison set a preliminary hearing for Oct. 19.

— Follow courts reporter Justin Story on Twitter @jstorydailynews or visit bgdailynews.com