LR man pleads guilty in cousin’s killing, gets 35 years

A 29-year-old Little Rock man was sentenced to 35 years in prison Wednesday for fatally shooting his cousin in January.

In exchange for the 35-year sentence, James Scott Threats pleaded guilty before Circuit Judge Herb Wright to charges of first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm for the Jan. 18 killing of Nakia Letrail Holmes, saiddeputy prosecutor Barbara Mariani.

Relatives of Holmes, a 28-year-old married father of three, disparaged Threats in court, complaining that he’s never apologized for the killing. They called his behavior disrespectful in part because of the victim’s military record of service in Iraq, Afghanistan and Hurricane Katrina, the prosecutor said.

On the day of the shooting,Holmes and Threats, neighbors in an apartment complex at 1700 John Barrow Road, had argued as part of a longtime disagreement, according to police reports. Holmes went to Threats’ residence to continue their discussion, but police did not know the subject of the argument.

As Holmes stood at the door, Threats - on probation at the time for breaking or entering, theft and fleeing convictions - went back into his apartment and got a shotgun.

A witness told police that Holmes took the barrel and put it against his forehead and dared Threats to pull the trigger, saying, “Do it if you are man enough.”

Threats shot Holmes, put the gun under a couch and left, police said. Threats was arrested when he returned to the apartments and tried to get into his residence.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 10 on 08/24/2012

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