Little Rock man pleads guilty to murder charge, gets 25 years in prison

Parker
Parker

A Little Rock man originally charged with capital murder for the 2015 shooting death of a Hot Springs man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to a reduced charge in Garland County Circuit Court.

Kameon Deshawn Parker, 20, who has remained in custody since his arrest Sept. 30, 2015, was set to stand trial July 9 on the charge of capital murder, but he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Roy Dell Smith, 31, on Sept. 24, 2015, and a felony charge of committing a terroristic act.

Parker was sentenced to 25 years on each count, to run concurrently. He also pleaded guilty to a felony charge of second-degree battery for attacking a Garland County sheriff's deputy in the detention center in 2018 and was sentenced to six years in prison, also to run concurrently.

Deputy Prosecutor Kara Petro said Monday the plea deal was offered with the approval of the victim's family and noted the actual shooter was sentenced to 30 years. Ocoriye Deonte Wallace, 24, of North Little Rock, pleaded guilty June 14, 2017, to second-degree murder in Smith's death.

A third alleged accomplice, Abriauna Simone Bell, 26, of Little Rock, was initially charged with capital murder in the case, but the charge was later withdrawn. She is set to stand trial June 5 on a felony charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Parker, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, was charged as an adult in the case, prompting multiple appeals by his attorneys trying to get his case remanded to juvenile court. Petro said it was because of the appeals that it took until Monday to convict Parker on the charges.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Hot Springs police responded to 117 Kenwood St. on Sept. 24, 2015, regarding a shooting. Smith was lying unresponsive in the hallway with a gunshot wound to his torso. He was transported by LifeNet to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, where he was pronounced dead.

Officers located a second victim, Terry Elijah Crump, 20, of Hot Springs, who had a minor gunshot wound to the left hand. He was transported to CHI where he was treated and later released.

Officers spoke to a male resident present during the shooting. He reportedly stated an unknown male, later identified as Wallace, came to the location to sell a gun to Crump. The witness left the living room but moments later heard a commotion and returned to see Wallace and Crump wrestling over the gun.

The resident said Wallace gained control of the gun, shot Crump and began shooting at the witness. Then he turned and shot Smith before fleeing the scene. A second witness said he also saw Crump and Wallace fighting and went to his bedroom to get a weapon. He said he heard gunshots and when he came out of his bedroom he saw Smith lying in the hallway and Wallace running out the front door.

Crump later told police that during the altercation with Wallace a second male, later identified as Parker, kicked in the front door and began shooting into the residence at all the occupants in the living room before also fleeing.

Officers later responded to the CK Quick Stop, 4945 E. Grand, after learning Wallace was there with a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. Police also made contact with Bell, who had gone in the store with Wallace. Wallace was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Little Rock and later extradited to Hot Springs after his release from the hospital.

Detectives learned Crump, an acquaintance of Wallace, had agreed to buy an AR-style rifle from him and Wallace had agreed to bring it there. Wallace sent Crump photos of the rifle using Bell's cellphone.

Bell told police she, Wallace and Parker came there together and Wallace went into the house and minutes later she heard gunshots from inside. She said Parker got out and went toward the house as she moved over into the driver's seat.

Bell reportedly admitted both Wallace and Parker got back into the vehicle and she then drove off.

Parker was arrested six days later in Little Rock.

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