Three plead not guilty in fatal Springdale shooting

FAYETTEVILLE -- Three men charged in a fatal Springdale shooting last month were arraigned Wednesday and given trial dates in Washington County Circuit Court.

Rodolfo Martinez, 18, who police believe to be the gunman, pleaded not guilty to accomplice to capital murder and accomplice to the unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle. He was given a July 21 trial date before Circuit Judge Mark Lindsay.

Giovanni Vasquez-Sanchez, 17, who police believe to be the driver, pleaded not guilty to accomplice to capital murder and accomplice to the unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle. Vasquez-Sanchez was charged as an adult and given a July 21 trial date before Judge Lindsay.

Jose Delatorre, 18, believed to be a passenger, pleaded not guilty to accomplice to capital murder and was given a June 9 trial date before Circuit Judge Joanna Taylor.

Martinez, Vasquez-Sanchez and Delatorre, if convicted of accomplice to capital murder, face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle is a felony punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison.

A 13-year-old boy, believed to be a passenger, was arrested on preliminary charges of accomplice to capital murder and engaging in continuing criminal enterprise. His case is being handled in Washington County Juvenile Court and information about his case is, therefore, unavailable.

The four have criminal histories, according to Springdale police.

Police were called to a shooting at 609 Savage St. at 11:20 a.m. April 11.

Three men were standing near a car, when four men in a blue Ford Focus pulled up and demanded to know their gang affiliations. One of the three said he was in a gang. One of the people in the car opened fire killing Jimmy Rodriguez, 20. It was unclear if Rodriguez was the person who named a gang affiliation.

After his arrest, Delatorre told police the group had been looking for a rival gang member who disrespected them. Police believe Rodriguez was a cousin of their intended target.

Martinez and Vasquez-Sanchez fled and were captured two days after the shooting by police near Hartman, just outside of Clarksville, in Johnson County. Delatorre and the juvenile were arrested in Springdale the day after the shooting.

The Savage Street shooting was the third gang-related shooting in Springdale in a month and the second fatal shooting.

Two people were injured and Fabian Rodriguez, 18, was shot and killed at 32 Applegate Drive on March 13. Hector Saul Ramos, 17, was arrested in connection with the shooting. Ramos has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, two counts of battery and a misdemeanor marijuana charge. He has a June 9 trial date before Judge Taylor.

A drive-by shooting overnight on Pierce Avenue on March 14 resulted in the arrests of a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old. No one was injured.

NW News on 05/07/2015

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