MAN IN CUSTODY: Shooting Being Investigated

Witnesses Giving Conflicting Reports, Officers Say

By Bob Caudle

Posted: November 26, 2009 at 4:46 a.m.

Justin Wedgworth
John Brashear with the Rogers Police Department puts up crime scene tape around an apartment Wednesday at the Rogers Commons Apartments.

• Print item
• E-mail
• Share
• Tweet

ROGERS — A man is in custody in connection with an early Wednesday morning shooting at a Rogers apartment complex.

Aristeo Chavez Jr., 25, of 813 N. 30th St. in Rogers, was arrested in connection with aggravated robbery, residential burglary and attempted murder charges, according to police.

Police and paramedics responded to South Winds Apartment complex, 2002 Commons Drive, at 4:24 a.m. to a report of a man with a gunshot wound to the head.

The man was taken to Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville and was in stable condition, said Cpl. Angel Murphy-Pearce, public information officer for the Rogers Police Department.

Police did not release the victim’s identity, Murphy-Pearce said, because they were trying to notify his family Wednesday afternoon.

The type of gun used was unknown, according to police.

Investigators were trying Wednesday afternoon to piece together exactly what happened, who was a witness and who was a participant, Murphy-Pearce said.

There are conflicting reports from witnesses, she said, including whether the participants left the area on foot or in a car.

An apartment door was kicked in and an altercation ensued between several men before the shooting, police said.

“This was not a random act of violence,” Murphy-Pearce said. “The shooting is beginning to indicate gang activity.”

There may be further witnesses to the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 621-1129.

The apartment complex is the same one where a Rogers police officer shot and killed a man Oct. 1.

Rogers Police Cpl. Jesse Ray shot Matthew Dague after Dague opened fire on the officer, according to reports.

Another police officer had attempted to stop Dague, who turned his vehicle in to the apartment complex then fled on foot. Ray stopped a van later, found Dague in the floorboard and Dague opened fire, police said at the time.

Prosecuting Attorney Van Stone said, following an investigation, the shooting was justified and Ray was cleared to return to work.

Comments

To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Please read our comment policy.

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.