Bail set at $250,000 in fatal shooting at LR apartments

Darrell Freeman
Darrell Freeman

A Little Rock man who surrendered after being named a suspect in a fatal shooting outside a Little Rock apartment complex this week was ordered held in lieu of $250,000 bond Wednesday.

Darrell Freeman Jr., 21, turned himself in about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of first-degree murder and made an initial appearance by video Wednesday morning before Little Rock District Judge Alice Lightle.

Freeman is suspected of fatally shooting 20-year-old Bernard Sherrod on Monday night outside a building at Park Heights Apartments, 1701 N. Bryant St. Sherrod suffered a gunshot wound in his right shoulder and died at UAMS Medical Center.

Prosecutors said at the brief hearing Wednesday that one witness reported Freeman responded Sherrod "needed to die" because he had tried to steal Freeman's guns and to stab him when the witness asked about the shooting.

Freeman's attorney, Lee D. Short, asked Lightle to set a $50,000 bail and to order ankle monitoring, noting that Freeman is a lifelong resident of the area and that he turned himself in.

But, Lightle said, a previous contempt of court violation indicated he may not abide by the court's orders. She then sentenced him to 30 days in jail on that charge and set the bail for the murder charge at $250,000.

Upcoming Events