$50,000 bail set for Hall High student who fled police

A Little Rock district judge set a $50,000 bail Thursday morning for a Hall High School student who led police on a manhunt while handcuffed Tuesday afternoon.

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The Pulaski County Detention Center

Demontae Berry, 16, of Little Rock

Little Rock resident Demontae Berry, 16, was arrested and charged as an adult with attempted capital murder, aggravated robbery and felony theft of property in connection with a Nov. 25 shooting that left 22-year-old Wieland Beck suffering from at least one gunshot wound in his right side, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

Beck, who called 911 shortly before 3 p.m. Nov. 25, went unconscious while talking to the emergency operators, according to police reports. He was taken to the UAMS Medical Center to be treated for his injuries, the Little Rock Police Department's spokesman Lt. Sidney Allen told Arkansas Online.

Allen said Berry had planned to meet with Beck about exchanging a laptop.

Berry is also being charged with third-degree escape after he led police on a search Tuesday. The escape charge is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Berry's attorney, Jimmy Morris Jr., asked District Judge Alice Lightle for the $50,000 bail. Berry's next hearing will be March 4 in Little Rock District Court.

Morris said Beck had first identified someone other than Berry as his shooter.

"We have an issue of mistaken identity," Morris said. "The only thing that I do think that they have in common is their hairstyle."

Morris would not comment about Berry's flee from Hall High School on Tuesday afternoon. Authorities briefly locked down Hall High and Forest Heights Middle School after Berry bolted from Hall High after being detained by a school officer Tuesday afternoon.

He surrendered to police Wednesday morning and is currently being held at Pulaski County jail.

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