A Richmond man has been indicted for the shooting death of his cousin earlier this year.

Authorities believe Jason L. Patillo killed his cousin in retaliation for the death of another cousin hours earlier.

Jason Patillo appeared today in Richmond Circuit Court on charges of murder, using a firearm in the killing and possessing a firearm as a felon in the death of James "Soul" Patillo.

James Patillo, 37, was shot to death Feb. 4 outside his home on Ford Avenue in Church Hill, seven hours after Alphonso "Fonz" Patillo, his 30-year-old cousin, was gunned down outside a club in Hopewell. James and Alphonso Patillo had attended a Super Bowl party at the club.

No one has been charged in the Hopewell killing, but Richmond prosecutors said they believe Jason Patillo, 25, killed James Patillo because he believed that James was responsible for setting up Alphonso to be robbed.

Yesterday, a multijurisdictional grand jury indicted Jason Patillo for murder, and he appeared twice today before Circuit Judge Bradley B. Cavedo to ensure legal representation and set a preliminary hearing for June 4.

Cavedo appointed attorney William T. Linka to represent Jason Patillo, who has been in police custody since surrendering Feb. 11 as a person of interest in James' death. Jason Patillo, who was wearing orange-and-white striped jail clothing, confirmed that Linka already is representing him on a probation violation in Culpeper County.

Jason Patillo is being held in a regional jail on the Culpeper charge.

He also faces a federal charge of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

He was convicted yesterday in Richmond General District Court of trespassing at a Richmond public-housing complex and was sentenced to 12 months in jail, with six months suspended, according to Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Matthew P. Geary.

Jason Patillo was tried for the murder of Lavar Robinson in Richmond's East End last year, but the charge was dropped after a witness refused to testify.