3rd suspect in killing at Little Rock diner pleads innocent; bail denied

Marquis Parker (from left), Adrian Avery and Corey Lamonte Eskridge, all 21
Marquis Parker (from left), Adrian Avery and Corey Lamonte Eskridge, all 21

A third suspect arrested in a fatal shooting at a Little Rock diner last week pleaded innocent to charges of capital murder and aggravated robbery Tuesday.

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Little Rock District Judge Alice Lightle ordered Corey Eskridge, 21, to be held without bail at the Pulaski County jail. Two other men arrested in the case, Adrian Avery and Marquis Parker, also 21, have pleaded innocent to the same charges.

All three remained in the jail late Tuesday.

The three were arrested in the death of Harold Byrd, 77, who was killed Thursday afternoon at Frontier Diner at 10424 Interstate 30. Police said Byrd was standing at the cash register, paying for a meal, when Eskridge and Parker went inside about 12:27 p.m. and tried to rob the business. But Parker's gun "went off," hitting Byrd in the head, according to a court affidavit.

Witnesses told police the robbers fled after the killing in a gold-colored Mercury Grand Marquis driven by another man. Investigators reportedly used a partial license plate number to connect Avery to the vehicle. Police found and arrested him later that day in North Little Rock.

Avery told police he believed Eskridge and Parker were picking up food from the restaurant, and that he didn't know they intended to rob the business, according to the affidavit.

Police arrested Parker early Friday. He told investigators he was the one who fired the shot inside Frontier Diner, the affidavit states. Parker also reportedly led police to the gun.

Eskridge surrendered to Little Rock police Monday after the department publicly identified him as a suspect in the case. He had been on probation after felony theft and burglary convictions in 2013.

Eskridge, Parker and Avery each had their next court dates set for August.

Parker is facing a separate count of aggravated robbery in a holdup June 21 at Dodge's Fried Chicken in North Little Rock. After being arrested Friday in Byrd's killing, he admitted to entering the North Little Rock store earlier in the week armed with a .38-caliber revolver and "participating in the robbery," according to an arrest report.

Police said at least two men are being sought in that holdup, but Parker was the only suspect identified in the report.

Metro on 06/29/2016

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