KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – A suspect in a South Charleston murder has pleaded not guilty in court.

Tavian Jones, 24, was in court Tuesday for the first time since he was returned to West Virginia after being arrested in Tennessee in December.

Earlier this month, a Kanawha County grand jury indicted Jones on charges of first-degree murder and use or presentment of a firearm during the commission of a felony. On Tuesday, he entered a not guilty plea to those charges.

The charges against Jones stem from the fatal shooting of Anthony Souvanlasy of Charleston.

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The SCPD said in December that Souvanlasy was shot in the head around 5 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, on First Avenue. Police said that a bicycle was found at the scene. On Friday, Dec. 8, police released security camera photographs of two people wanted in connection to the shooting .

Authorities say through the investigation, they obtained a felony warrant for Jones on Dec. 9, 2023, for felony first-degree murder.

Jones was arrested by the U.S. Marshal Service on Dec. 14, 2023. According to Greene County Sheriff Wesley Holt, Jones was then taken to the Greene County Detention Center. He was extradited back to West Virginia on Dec. 29.

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