The Little Rock man arrested Wednesday in an April slaying shot the victim while his back was turned to settle a longstanding gang dispute, witnesses said.
Tommie Ice, 24, had been wanted for first-degree murder since May 1, almost two weeks after the slaying of 25-year-old Lenard Montgomery, and was arrested by Little Rock detectives and federal officials in the Reservoir Road area and booked at the Pulaski County jail.
Court documents released Friday state the shooting began as an argument between rival gangs, an argument that one side thought was over until Ice opened fire as the others started to walk away.
Police were called to the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Apartments at 6201 Mabelvale Cutoff Road late on April 18 and found blood and shell casings but nothing else.
They were later called to Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock and learned that Montgomery had been taken there and dropped off at the emergency room with several gunshot wounds.
Montgomery died early April 19.
Investigators obtained surveillance footage from the complex where he was shot, and they were able to track down witnesses to the shooting.
According to arrest affidavits, the video shows two groups of individuals -- Montgomery in one, Ice in the other -- converse and then break up; when Ice turns, recorded at 10:19:54 p.m., there is a muzzle flash.
Montgomery immediately falls to the ground near a Chevrolet Avalanche, the vehicle that eventually took him to the hospital. Just one second later, the video shows Montgomery firing back, a muzzle flash visible from his right hand.
Witnesses told detectives they went with Montgomery to the parking lot and had an argument with Ice over a longstanding gang issue between Ice's "Self Paid Playa's" and Montgomery's "Highland Park Pirus/HighlandPark Murdamob."
Both Montgomery and Ice pulled revolvers on the other, according to the affidavit, and waved them at each other while they argued.
One witness told detectives that some children came out of a nearby apartment and both sides agreed to "quash" the dispute while there were children around.
Montgomery and his people turned around to leave when several shots were fired and Montgomery dropped to the ground, the affidavit states.
The wounded Montgomery fired one shot back at the rival group, which scattered and fled, and then his friend picked up the gun and tossed it into a nearby playground before loading Montgomery into a vehicle, according to the affidavit.
Police officials did not offer details about how Ice was located but said he refused to give a statement after he was arrested.
Montgomery was the 17th homicide victim in Little Rock this year.
After his arrest Wednesday night, Ice pleaded innocent in Little Rock District Court on Thursday morning, and he remained at the Pulaski County jail Friday night, where he was being held in lieu of a $200,000 bond.
