JONESBORO, Ark. — Jonesboro police continued to work to resolve an ongoing investigation on Monday, bringing charges against another suspect in a shooting incident from late September.
Charles Steven Williams, 19, of Jonesboro, was in court on Monday, October 7 for his probable cause hearing on a charge of terroristic act, a Class B felony punishable by 5 to 20 years in prison. The bond was set at $25,000 cash or surety by Judge David Boling.
Rickey Dewayne Harris, 25, of Jonesboro, was in court on Friday, October 4 on the same charge of terroristic act. His bond was set at $75,000 cash or surety by Judge Tommy Fowler.
The probable cause affidavits say on Sept. 28, officers were dispatched to Cedar Heights Drive about multiple shots fired in the area. Officers located a parking lot containing multiple spent shell casings, along with a vehicle that had been struck multiple times by gunfire. A nearby occupied residence was also struck multiple times by bullets.
Detectives arrived on the scene and began processing it. They quickly learned the shell casings were of multiple calibers, meaning multiple firearms were used during the shooting. Two projectiles were recovered from the occupied residence.
As detectives continued their investigation, they obtained video footage showing several of the subjects involved going in and out of a residence where the shooting took place. Detectives learned Charles Williams had a recent past association with subjects at the residence, developing him as a person of interest in the case. Through further investigation, Rickey Harris was also developed as a subject police believe to be seen in the footage.
The affidavit states that the video shows a black male wearing a white bathrobe standing with a group of suspects in a nearby parking lot for several minutes. The group then walks to the lot where the shooting happened. Many, including the subject in the bathrobe, put on face coverings just before shooting at a vehicle that drives by them moments later. After the shooting, the suspects fled the scene on foot eastbound and huddled together.
In one portion of the video, detectives reported the suspect in the bathrobe is seen walking near the scene without his face covering on. Authorities positively identified him as Williams. Detectives reported that Williams was not seen with a firearm on video footage but he is seen with a group of suspects staged in the nearby parking lot, walking with the group and covering their faces as the group shoots at a vehicle
The affidavit says that based on these facts and video footage, detectives believe Williams was aware of his and the group’s actions and aided in the planning and commission of the offense. A warrant for his arrest was signed on October 4.
Like Williams, Harris was also not seen with a firearm on video footage, his PC affidavit states. But he is seen with a group of subjects in a nearby parking lot and is seen walking with the group to where the shooting takes place. He, too, pulled a mask over his face before the shooting. Detectives believe Harris was also aware of the group’s actions and aided in the planning and commission of the offense, the affidavit states.
In court on Friday, Harris said, “I wasn’t the one shooting.” He told Judge Fowler he ran from the scene and called the police. He mentioned he is disabled and felt like he was being picked on because of his disabilities. However, he admitted to pulling the mask over his face before the shots being fired. Because of his lack of ties to the community, Judge Fowler set his bond at $75,000 cash or surety. His next court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on November 14.
In court on Monday, Williams said he didn’t even know who the alleged victim was. The judge noted he was out on bond from Mississippi County. The judge followed the state’s request and set a $25,000 cash or surety bond for Williams. His next court appearance is also scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on November 14.
In both instances, no contact orders were issued between the suspects and the alleged victim.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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