FAYETTEVILLE — Police arrested three men Tuesday and are searching for a fourth in connection with a Monday night shooting near West End Avenue.
The arrests included two counts of attempted murder against Martez Deunta Butler, 22, of Fayetteville. Aaron Jamal Walton, 20, of Springdale and Derrick Doolittle, 23, of Fayetteville face felony charges including two counts of accomplice to attempted murder.
AT A GLANCE
Arrests, Charges
The following people were charged in connection with a shooting on West End Avenue on Monday:
- Martez Deunta Butler, 22, of 3068 Bentley Ridge St. in Fayetteville faces felony charges in connection with two counts of attempted murder, 10 counts of aggravated assault, two counts of terroristic act and one count each of engaging in violent criminal group activity and felony in possession of a firearm.
- Aaron Jamal Walton, 20, of 2321 Orchard St. in Springdale faces felony charges involving two counts of accomplice to attempted murder, 10 counts of accomplice to aggravated assault, two counts of accomplice of terroristic act and one count of engaging in violent criminal group activity. Butler also faces a charge in connection with felon in possession of a firearm.
- Derrick Doolittle, 23, of 401 W. 24th St. No. 41 in Fayetteville faces felony charges involving two counts of accomplice to attempted murder, 10 counts of accomplice to aggravated assault, two counts of accomplice of terroristic act and one count of engaging in violent criminal group activity.
Source: Fayetteville Police Department
Fayetteville officers were called to a shooting in the area of West End Avenue and Valley View Drive at 8:50 p.m.
Several witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots, according to a preliminary arrest report.
“All the calls we received came from third parties,” said Sgt. Craig Stout. “No one involved in the incident called police.”
Witnesses initially reported a woman was shot in the arm and a man had been “grazed” by a bullet, according to a 911 call.
Stout said police haven’t confirmed if anyone was struck by gunfire.
“One man had a minor injury to his hand, but we’re not sure if it was caused by a bullet, a rock or a fall injury,” he said. “We might never know.”
A group of four men near a duplex on West End Avenue told officers they were returning in cars from a barbecue at a relative’s house when a small white car with four male passengers passed them on Wedington Drive. The driver of the white car reportedly honked its horn and yelled out as they drove by. The white car did a U-turn, according to the report, and followed the car with the other four men to a duplex at 1218 N. West End Ave.
The driver reportedly pulled his car into the duplex parking lot, and the white car’s driver turned onto Valley View Drive and stopped in the road adjacent to the duplex. The men in the white car got out and began taking off their shirts as if they wanted to fight, according to the report.
The men at the duplex recognized three of the men in the white care as Butler, Walton and Keon Plummer. Police continue to search for Plummer.
The men said Butler had a chrome pistol and began firing shots in their direction. They said he fired three shots at one man as he fled toward the West End Apartment complex. Two of the rounds reportedly entered an occupied apartment, missing the resident inside.
Butler then turned toward the duplex and fired several more shots at a man near the building, the report said. The duplex was occupied by a woman and her four small children. Several rounds entered the duplex, police said, but didn’t strike anyone.
Butler, Walton, Plummer and a fourth man got into the white car and left, driving east on Valley View Drive.
Several hours later, detectives learned Cassie Watkins, 23, of 401 W. 24th St. No. 60 might have information about the men in the white car. Police went to Watkins’ apartment at the Grandview Apartment complex and found a white Hyundai Elantra parked outside, matching the description of the vehicle involved in the shooting, police said.
Officers knocked on Watkins’ door, but no one answered.
Police set up surveillance of the apartment to identify the occupants, according to the report.
About 7 a.m., Butler’s relatives came to the apartment to convince him to come out. Butler, Walton and Watkins exited the apartment about 8:30 a.m.
The two men were arrested and taken to the Washington County Detention Center, where they were both being held Tuesday. Walton was held without bond, while Butler was held on $560 bond for misdemeanor failure to appear. He also faces a possible parole violation.
Watkins was later arrested in connection with felony hindering apprehension. Police said she admitted Butler and Walton were in the residence and refused to answer the door.
Stout said police are still searching for Keon Plummer, 20, of Fayetteville in connection with Monday’s shooting.