By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Four people accused of involvement in the murder of Walter Jones, 28, in Lonoke on Sept. 18 pleaded not guilty Friday in Lonoke County Circuit Court before Judge Barbara Elmore.
Jeremy Walker, 24, of 101 Plantation Drive is charged with second-degree murder and engaging in a violent group activity. Cortney McClain, 24, and Kimo McClain, 21, both of 302 Teresa Lane, are both charged with second-degree murder, engaging in a violent group activity and hindering apprehension.
Fantasia Williams, 26, of Longview, Texas, who was dating Kimo McClain, is charged with hindering apprehension.
All four requested mental evaluations before their trials begin. They have not bonded out and are at the Lonoke County Detention Center. Walker is being held on $500,000 bond. The McClains and Williams are being held on $250,000 bond.
A bond hearing is set for 9 a.m. Dec. 9. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 5 and a jury trial is set to begin at 9 a.m. March 7.
If convicted, a second-degree murder charge enhanced with engaging in a violent group activity carries up to 40 years in prison. Hindering apprehension carries up to 20 years in prison, according to Lonoke County Prosecutor Chuck Graham.
Police found Jones of 105 Teresa Lane dead near three mailboxes at 101 Plantation Drive. Jones had a gunshot wound on the left side of his head near his left ear. A silver revolver with blood on it was found in the grass next to Jones’ body.
Cortney McClain was walking east in the 100 block of Plantation Drive with a gunshot wound to his left forearm. Plantation Drive is across the street from Teresa Lane.
McClain told police that he and Jones began to fight. During the fight, Jones pulled a silver revolver. McClain said he attempted to gain control of the weapon.
During the struggle McClain said he was shot in the left forearm and Jones was shot.
The shooting may be related to a fight that occurred the night before at a nightclub in Scott.
Police do not believe the gun found next to Jones was the weapon used in the shooting.
According to the arrest affidavit, police interviewed Shameka McClain, who was at the scene during the shooting. She told police she had an argument with Jones on Plantation Drive.
She was followed by her brothers, Cortney and Kimo McClain and Jeremy Walker. She heard voices telling her to get back. Cortney McClain rushed Walter. Walter pulled a gun and shot it in the air.
She turned to run and said she did not see who shot or where Kimo McClain and Walker were during the incident, but heard two different sounding gunshots.
A witness reported seeing Jones and Cortney McClain fighting. He said he saw a tall black man run up behind them and shoot about four times. The tall black man went running with another black man. The two men entered a car parked at a home on Plantation Road with Texas plates driven by a black female.
The witness identified Walker as the shooter and Kimo McClain was identified as running with Walker after the shooting occurred in a photo line-up.
When police interviewed Cortney McClain he denied knowing where the suspects were.
Five days after the shooting authorities found Cortney McClain, Kimo McClain and Jeremy Walker in Longview, Texas hiding out at William’s apartment.
All four waived extradition and were returned to Lonoke.
In a suspected act of revenge, McClain’s grandmother’s house at 302 Teresa Lane was set on fire during the night after the shooting. No one was at home when the fire occurred.
A state police arson investigator found traces of an accelerant in the fire. No arrests have been made in the arson.
