JULY 24, 2012 (FALMOUTH) _ An 18 year old Falmouth man accused of fatally shooting his stepfather this past April was arraigned on a murder charge yesterday in Barnstable Superior Court.

Devante Fernandes was indicted earlier this month. He pleaded not guilty during yesterday’s hearing and is being held without bail.

He’ll be back in court on September 7 for a pre-trial hearing.

John Williams, 44, died in a Boston hospital several days after the shooting that set off a manhunt in Falmouth for Fernandes and several other suspects.

Fernandes’ lawyer says his client was protecting his mother from abuse.