MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – The former Virginia Tech football player accused of murdering a Blacksburg resident made his first court appearance Thursday. 18-year-old Ise Etute is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 40-year-old Jerry Smith.

Authorities say the two men were acquaintances and that Smith died of blunt force head injuries. Smith’s body was found Monday in his apartment as police were making a welfare check.

Etute appeared virtually from the Montgomery County Jail, where he is being held without bond. During the appearance, a judge assigned Etute court-appointed counsel. Radford City vice-mayor and attorney Naomi Huntington was named to handle his defense.

Police have not given a motive in the slaying.