BLYTHEVILLE -- A Blytheville man was charged with first-degree murder Monday in the weekend shooting death of his roommate, authorities said.
Charles Campbell Jr., 52, is held in the Mississippi County jail in Luxora after Blytheville District Judge Shannon Langston set bail at $100,000.
His next court appearance is scheduled for March 30 in Mississippi County Circuit Court.
Campbell is accused of fatally shooting Rodney Lutes, 54, at 11:15 p.m. Saturday, said Capt. Scott Adams, commander of the Blytheville Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division.
Police responded to 617 Illinois St. in north Blytheville and saw a young boy sitting on the front porch. The boy told police he saw Campbell shoot Lutes, Adams said.
Inside, officers found Lutes unconscious on the living room floor and Campbell attempting to revive him. Paramedics arrived, but efforts to save Lutes were not successful, Adams said.
Both men lived at the Illinois Street home. Alcohol was believed to be a factor in the shooting, police said.
It was the first homicide for 2015 in the Mississippi County town, Adams said.
State Desk on 03/03/2015