Slain man’s brother identified in shooting

Johnson County Sheriff Jimmy Dorney on Friday identified the man suspected of fatally shooting his brother Nov. 28 as Stephen Parton, 54.

He also said the Arkansas medical examiner released a preliminary cause in the death of Thomas Edward Sears as a gunshot wound. The manner of death was pending Friday,Dorney said.

Sears, 43, of Coal Hill was shot once in the upper back while walking on a trail in the woods beside Horsehead Creek near the Franklin County line. He was not wearing hunter-safety clothing and was unarmed, according to the sheriff.

Parton, who lives nearby, told investigators with the sheriff’s office, Arkansas StatePolice and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission that he was in his backyard, mistook Sears for a deer and shot him from 144 yards away.

Dorney said Friday he was not making an arrest in the case but was going to submit reports on the investigation to Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons and let him evaluate the case.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 14 on 12/08/2012

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