EL DORADO -- An El Dorado man was shot to death early Thursday morning, and a California man was arrested hours later.
Destin S. Reed, 34, was arrested about 2:20 p.m. Thursday, El Dorado police said. Reed was arrested on charges of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a certain person.
Reed is accused of shooting Lawrence E. Nelson Jr., 38, several times at Ur Way Auto Sales.
Police responded at 1:30 a.m. Thursday to a report of a shooting at the business. Nelson appeared to be deceased upon arrival with multiple gunshot wounds, police Capt. Kevin Holt said.
Union County Coroner Curtis Butterfield pronounced Nelson dead a short time later. The body was sent to the state Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for a medical examination.
Holt said witnesses were initially uncooperative and told investigators that Nelson was the only person inside the building at the time, though several people were on the scene when police arrived.
"We are working through that, and we have been able to find enough witnesses to tell us what happened from their perspective," Holt said.
Through witness statements, investigators identified Reed as a suspect.
During his surrender to police, Reed was accompanied by his mother, who lives in El Dorado and had agreed to turn him in, Police Chief Billy White said.
Metro on 06/08/2014
