A man arrested Wednesday in a fatal shooting in Little Rock earlier this year made his first court appearance in the case Thursday.
Cherard Durel Harriott, 26, pleaded innocent to a charge of capital murder in the death of Alex Ward, 25. District Judge Alice Lightle ordered Harriott to be held without bail at the Pulaski County jail.
Harriott is accused of shooting Ward the afternoon of Jan. 31 outside a residence at 14 Baltimore St., just south of Granite Heights Park in the southeast part of the city. Officers arrived at the address at 6:04 p.m. and found Ward lying on the ground suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Ward was taken to UAMS Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
A police affidavit released after Thursday's court hearing states that an inmate at the Pulaski County jail was one of two witnesses who provided information that led to Harriott's arrest. According to the court filing, the inmate told police that Harriott said he killed Ward because Ward had "put a hit out" on a relative.
The inmate "gave details concerning the shooting that were not released to media or known to those without first-hand knowledge," detective Matt Hoffine wrote in the affidavit.
Police said another witness overheard Harriott, who is also known as "Pooty," discussing the killing. Harriott reportedly said he called Ward to meet him at the Baltimore Street address, then shot him and took his money, according to the affidavit.
The witness also heard Harriott say Ward was "like my best friend, but I shot him," according to the affidavit.
The two witnesses were not identified in the court filing.
Harriott of Little Rock surrendered to police Wednesday after an arrest warrant was issued in the case.
He was additionally charged with first-degree battery and unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, charges related to a separate shooting June 23 at 1612 S. University Ave. Police said Harriott and Travis Weston, 31, exchanged gunfire from their respective vehicles that morning, and Weston was grazed by a bullet.
Weston was hospitalized, then arrested on gun possession and drug charges. He pleaded innocent in the case.
Harriott also pleaded innocent in that case Thursday.
Metro on 07/01/2016