Officer Kristi Mitchell

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-260-0294 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Arrests Made in Recent Shootings, More Pending

The Texarkana Arkansas Police Dept has made three arrests so far in a series of three unrelated shooting incidents that have occurred over the last week.  James Neal Byrd, B/M 18 Yoa, Eddie Hall, B/M 22 Yoa, and James Bradley, B/M 18 Yoa, all of Texarkana, have been arrested for the April 27th shooting on East 22nd street.  One of the victims, Jarius Daniels, was seriously injured during the incident.  All three suspects were arrested and charged with 1st degree battery, engaging in violent criminal activity, and the unlawful discharge of a weapon from a vehicle.  The arrest of a juvenile is still pending in this case.

Jarius Weekly, B/M 28 Yoa, is being sought by the Texarkana Arkansas Police Dept. for the shooting incident that occurred on April 29th at 2508 East 9th Street, the Paradise Club. Two victims were talking in the parking lot of the business when Weekly approached them while driving an older model gold Cadillac.  After a short time, Weekly began shooting at the victims while striking one of the victim’s vehicles.    Felony warrants have been issued for Weekly for 2 counts of aggravated assault and 2 counts of the unlawful discharge of a weapon from a vehicle.

Isiah Baker, W/M 59 Yoa, of Texarkana, is being sought by the Texarkana Arkansas Police Dept. for the May 1st shooting incident that occurred on Hwy 71. The victims, who were working as repo specialists’, had just repossessed a vehicle from Soper’s Trailer Park, located on East Street, and were travelling north on Hwy 71.  Baker then began to shoot at the victim’s vehicle while driving his Chevy pickup truck.  Baker continued to follow the victims until he turned onto a side street and fired more rounds toward the victim’s vehicle. Several bullets struck the victim’s vehicle but no injuries occurred.  A felony warrant for 3 counts of aggravated assault and 3 counts of unlawful discharge of a weapon have been issued for Baker.

Arkansas State Law Statute 5-74-107 states a person commits unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle in the first degree if he knowingly discharges a firearm from a vehicle and thereby causes death or serious physical injury to another person.   Any person who is guilty of unlawfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle in the first degree commits a Class Y felony.

A person commits unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle in the second degree if he recklessly discharges a firearm from a vehicle in a manner that creates a substantial risk of physical injury to another person or property damage to a home, residence, or other occupiable structure. Any person who is guilty of unlawfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle in the second degree commits a Class B felony.

The penalty for a Class Y Felony is 10 to 40 years of imprisonment. The penalty for a Class B Felony is 5 to 20 years of imprisonment.

Detective Les Moody continues to investigate all three incidents and encourages anyone with information on the whereabouts of  Weekly or Baker, or any other information on any of the cases to contact him at the Texarkana Arkansas Police Dept. Criminal Investigation Division 903-798-3154 or Texarkana area CrimeStoppers at 903-793-STOP.

Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.