An Arkansas man accused of killing a Springdale man pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge Monday, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
Christopher Rankin, 25, is charged with killing Trenton Coney, 22, on New Year's Day in the parking lot of Arsaga's at the Depot, 548 W. Dickson St., in Fayetteville.
Coney, a Springdale resident, was reportedly shot once in the chest after a physical interaction with Rankin. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, authorities previously said.
An officer was flagged down shortly after 12:45 a.m. that day and told about a disturbance in the coffee shop's parking lot of Arsaga's at the Depot, according to a news release from the Fayetteville Police Department cited by the newspaper.
Several witnesses reportedly told officers that Rankin was talking to a woman in the parking lot when Coney walked up to check on her. According to the newspaper, authorities said that Rankin then got upset, pulled a gun and pointed it at Coney.
A fight between the two ended with Coney falling to the ground. Rankin stood over him and fired one shot, striking the 22-year-old in the chest, the newspaper reported, citing the news release.
Rankin, a Sherwood resident, reportedly fled before police arrived but was later found in Fayetteville and taken to the Washington County jail. He remained there Monday afternoon in lieu of $250,000 bond, records show.
His next court date is reportedly set for April 5.
