NORTH LITTLE ROCK — A serving a prison sentence in a separate case has been served a warrant in North Little Rock's first homicide of 2011.
Harold Lamar Givens Jr. is charged with first-degree murder in the Feb. 12, 2011 fatal shooting of 49-year-old Jimmy Lee Butler.
Butler's body was found early that morning when police responded to a disturbance at J&J Diner, an eatery at Washington Avenue and Hazel Street near Interstate 30.
Butler was shot at least once. Police said it happened during a large disturbance or fight inside the business.
North Little Rock Police Department spokesman Sgt. Brian Dedrick said Friday it wasn't clear how detectives linked Givens to the crime. The warrant was served Thursday morning.
Givens was sentenced in June 2011 to 5 years in prison on charges of first-degree domestic battery and terroristic threatening. Details on those charges weren't immediately available.