A man accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend earlier this week in Little Rock pleaded innocent to a charge of first-degree murder Thursday morning.
District Judge Alice Lightle ordered Cory Dewan Brooks, 24, to be held in lieu of $100,000 bond. Brooks, who was arrested Wednesday by U.S. Marshals in Little Rock, remained in the Pulaski County jail late Thursday.
An affidavit released after Brooks' arraignment offered new details on the slaying, which occurred about 10:53 p.m. Monday at 7825 W. 28th St. Brooks lived at the residence with his mother, stepfather and two brothers.
Brooks and his girlfriend, Yolanda Renee Whitfield, 26, had been drinking vodka and arguing about tacos and their relationship before Brooks' mother intervened and the dispute turned physical, the affidavit says.
Brooks' mother, Teresa Ticey, told police that Whitfield punched her twice. "Don't hit my mother," Brooks said before firing about five shots at Whitfield, striking her in the head, back, neck and chest, according to the affidavit. Whitfield was taken to Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock and pronounced dead.
Ticey told investigators that after Brooks fled the scene, she called him and asked why he had shot Whitfield.
"I lost it," Brooks said, according to the affidavit.
Police said a detective also called Brooks that night and asked Brooks to turn himself in, but Brooks hung up.
Officers reported finding a black handgun under a Toyota Corolla parked in the driveway.
Relatives of Brooks and Whitfield have declined to comment on the case.
Court records show Brooks had no previous criminal history.
Metro on 06/05/2015