LITTLE ROCK — Bail was set Friday at $1 million each for the two men accused of killing a man and wounding two others in a shooting Tuesday in Little Rock.
Marcus Simmons, 25, and Omar Griffis, 23, both of Little Rock, each face one count of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree battery and one count of aggravated assault. The men pleaded innocent and Judge Alice Lightle set bail at $1 million apiece.
Terry London, 31, died from a gunshot wound in the head outside an Allis Street house.
Little Rock police detective Tommy Hudson said two other people were in the car that carried Griffis and Simmons to the shooting scene, but he doesn’t anticipate any additional arrests.
Wounded were Richard Swain, 34, and Brandon Reed, 26, who were standing outside Reed’s house at 824 Allis St. with London when the shooting occurred.
According to Hudson, Griffis and Simmons had an ongoing beef with London and the other men.
“It’s just some gang members arguing over drugs and guns,” Hudson said. “There was supposed to be a sit-down [Tuesday night] to work things out.”
The Cadillac carrying Griffis and Simmons parked in the driveway of Reed’s home, but the negotiations fell apart fast and Griffis and Simmons began shooting, Hudson said. London was shot in the head and Swain and Reed were shot in their legs.
Hudson said the men didn’t count on Randy Goins, who was in the yard, having a gun.
When the gunfire began, Goins took cover behind a bush and fired back. Hudson said that took the others by surprise and sent everyone running, leaving the car behind.
In April, prosecutors withdrew capital-murder and firstdegree battery charges against Simmons, who police had said was involved in an August 2010 drug deal that turned deadly, leaving Larry Sims with a fatal gunshot wound in the chest outside Baymont Inn & Suites at 6100 Mitchell Drive.
Citing a lack of cooperation from witnesses, the prosecutors withdrew the charges with “good cause,” which means they could refile the charges within a year.
Griffis was arrested after a November 2010 drug raid at 2217 Cedar St. yielded several ounces of marijuana, illegal sedatives and four guns. He was charged with possession of drugs and firearms.
On June 7, 2011, Griffis was found at the scene of a drug raid at 4400 W. 11th St., where he ran from officers, police say. He was caught and found to be in possession of 14 grams of marijuana and $282 in cash, police say. He was charged with drug possession.
London’s slaying marks the 25th in Little Rock this year and the fifth so far this month. There were 37 homicides in the city last year.
Arkansas, Pages 15 on 07/22/2012