A man arrested in a fatal shooting at a Little Rock diner last week pleaded innocent in the case Monday morning in Little Rock District Court.
Marquis Parker, 21, faces charges of capital murder and aggravated robbery in the death of Harold Byrd, 77, of Little Rock. Judge Alice Lightle on Monday ordered Parker held without bail at the Pulaski County jail.
Parker is one of three suspects in the killing Thursday afternoon at Frontier Diner, 10424 Interstate 30. Adrian Avery, 21, has also pleaded innocent to charges of capital murder and aggravated robbery in the case.
Police said Corey Lamont Eskridge, 21, of North Little Rock surrendered to police on the same charges Monday afternoon.
According to police, Byrd was paying for a meal at the diner at 12:27 p.m. when Eskridge and Parker tried to rob the business at gunpoint. But Parker's gun "went off," and Byrd was shot in the head, according to a court affidavit. Parker and Eskridge then fled the shooting in a gold Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Avery, police said.
Police found Avery driving the vehicle later that day in North Little Rock and arrested him. Avery told investigators he did not know that Parker and Eskridge intended to rob the diner, the affidavit states. He said he drove them to the business because he believed they were picking up a food order.
Parker was arrested about 12:10 a.m. Friday at his home in North Little Rock at 4201 Rogers St. Police said he told officers that he shot Byrd and led investigators to the gun.
Court records show Eskridge is the only one of the suspects who has a prior adult criminal history. He was convicted of felony residential burglary and felony theft of property in December 2013 and sentenced to six years of probation.
Byrd's death was the 15th homicide of the year in Little Rock.
Metro on 06/28/2016