Partygoer killed, another is critical in 2 of 3 shootings in Arkansas city

Helena-West Helena police have arrested four suspects in three recent shootings that left one dead and another in critical condition.

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The first two shootings occurred early Saturday. Police were monitoring a graduation party near Perry Street and Oakland Avenue because of the large number of attendees when several fights broke out and a crowd gathered outside the building, Chief Virgil Green said.

Police found Devon "Savon" Bridget, 19, shot in the parking lot. He was taken in a private vehicle driven by Markius Carpenter to Helena Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to a news release from the Helena-West Helena Police Department.

Carpenter left the hospital but was brought back less than 45 minutes later with several gunshot wounds. He was airlifted to a Memphis hospital, according to police.

A caller reported hearing five gunshots in the area of Cherrydale and Kentucky streets at 1:49 a.m., the news release said.

Police arrested brothers Cordario and Jeremy Morant, both of Elaine, in connection with the first shooting, Green said.

Cordario Morant is charged with capital murder, terroristic acts, tampering with evidence and possession of firearms. Cordario Morant was arrested Tuesday night after several witnesses identified him as the shooter.

Jeremy Morant is charged with conspiracy and tampering with evidence, according to the news release.

Authorities arrested Jeremy Glass of Elaine on charges of conspiracy and tampering with evidence. Glass was driving the car from which the Morant brothers shot at the vehicle Carpenter was driving, the news release said.

The group from Elaine is known to have a long-standing feud with the group from Helena-West Helena, according to the news release.

Police arrested Armand Winford on 11 counts of aggravated assault and 11 counts of terroristic acts after shots were fired at a house on Liberty Street early Monday morning, according to a release.

There were 11 people in the house at the time, including several children who were sleeping, the release said. One bullet struck the bedroom window where several of them were asleep, the news release said.

Residents told police they were in bed asleep when they heard gunshots and went outside to investigate. They saw a bullet hole in a car parked in the driveway, according to a news release.

One occupant was in the kitchen when the shots were fired and saw several men run away, jump into the back of a truck and leave, according to a news release. Winford was arrested based on witnesses' description, according to police.

"It's kind of a bizarre chain of events that have occurred over the past few days," Green said. "If you commit a violent felony crime in Helena-West Helena, we're going to request some very long prison sentencing," Green said in the release.

There have been several shootings in the city this year. Things had mostly calmed down until the most recent incidents, Green said.

"I don't think things are as bad now as they have been previously," Green said. "They've had a problem with crime in West Helena for quite a few years."

Metro on 05/26/2016

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