SEARCY - Police arrested a Searcy woman early Friday in the shooting death of her mother outside the business where the older woman worked.
Alexandria Williams, 33, was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Dina Darden, 50, of Searcy, police said. Williams is being held in lieu of a $500,000 bond.
Prosecuting Attorney Chris Raff said Friday that he had not yet formally charged Williams in White County Circuit Court because he was awaiting information from the police.
Officers responded at 12:05a.m. to the parking lot outside a Big Lots store at 103 North Poplar St. after receiving a report that shots had been fired. Witnesses told police that the driver of a red Ford pickup had shot someone in the lot and left the scene, police said in a news release.
The driver fled from a Searcy police officer, but an Arkansas State Police trooper stopped the truck with the help of spike strips, authorities said. A short time later, Searcy police arrested Williams.
Darden had just gotten off work at Big Lots when she was shot, police said.
Authorities do not know the motive in the shooting, according to the release.
Arkansas, Pages 10 on 12/21/2013