A shooting from an apparent drug deal gone bad led to the arrest of two Arkansas residents. Accused of committing violent crimes, both individuals are still in police custody. Although one person is a minor, it is possible that he will be charged as an adult.
The shooting victim was driving with one passenger when they stopped to pick up a 21-year-old man and a 17-year-old teenager. After stopping in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant, the pair asked if the driver and his passenger used marijuana. The driver supposedly replied that they did and asked about the price of anything that the pair might have.
Instead of giving a price, police say that the teen pulled out a gun and held it to the driver’s head. The pair supposedly tried to rob the people in the car but were unsuccessful. They eventually got out of the car, but the teen then turned back and fired several shots towards the vehicle. The driver suffered a gunshot wound to his buttocks, but his injuries are not life-threatening.
Witnesses told police that they spotted the pair fleeing the scene into the nearby woods, and police located them a short while later. The older of the two is charged with aggravated robbery, first-degree battery and more. No violent crimes charges have been filed against the teen, but he is scheduled to appear in court soon and will likely do so as an adult rather than a minor. Since a criminal record can have a profound effect on a person’s life, Arkansas defendants are well advised to begin preparing their criminal defense as early on in the process as possible.