LITTLE ROCK — A man charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of an unarmed neighbor entered an innocent plea during an initial court appearance Monday.
Edward Lee, 34, was also ordered held in lieu of $500,000 bond during the brief video hearing before Pulaski County District Judge Wayne Gruber.
Investigators say Lee admitted shooting 22-year-old Antonio Davis four times in the chest during a confrontation late Saturday night at 14110 Charlene Lane, which is south of Little Rock.
But, Lee said, he ventured into the neighboring residence to try to break up a heated fight and that he "feared for his safety" because Davis started moving toward him, Pulaski County sheriff's deputies wrote in a report. Lee claimed to have warned Davis to back down multiple times before opening fire.
Davis was taken to Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, where he was pronounced dead.
Prosecutors asked for $1 million bail, but Lee's attorney argued it should be lower because of the "extenuating circumstances." Gruber said he settled on the $500,000 amount after weighing the seriousness of the charge against the circumstances and Lee's lack of a criminal history.
According to the police report, Lee told investigators he and Davis have a "history of violence together," including an incident in which Davis broke Lee's ankle.
The incident marked the fifth homicide investigated by the Pulaski County sheriff's office so far this year.