SPRINGDALE -- Washington County prosecutors are charging 17-year-old Hector Saul Ramos with murder in last week's fatal shooting in Springdale.
The shooting early Friday left one teenager dead and sent two other people to the hospital, Springdale police said.
Prosecutor Matt Durrett filed felony information Monday accusing Ramos of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree battery and misdemeanor possession of marijuana. If convicted on the murder charge, Ramos faces 10 to 40 years or life in prison. The battery charges carry prison terms of five to 20 years.
Ramos will be tried as an adult and his arraignment is set for 9 a.m. today in front of Circuit Judge Joanna Taylor.
Police found Fabian Rodriguez, 18, of 2406 Trudi Place, with a gunshot wound at 3:21 a.m. Friday in the yard of 32 Applegate Drive, according to Springdale police. Rodriguez was pronounced dead at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale.
Savannah Smith, 21, and a 14-year-old boy arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds shortly after the shooting, police said. Neither had life-threatening injuries.
Police said Ramos, who lived with his mother, told them he saw people outside his apartment "banging on the window and one was holding a machete," according to a news release. Ramos fired a gun through the window and hit two people, police said.
Ramos then chased them, firing more shots as the teens fled, police said. He also shot into a car where Smith was in the driver's seat, according to police.
A handgun was found in a drainage ditch near the apartment, and a machete was found near Rodriguez, according to police.
Police arrested Ramos Friday and charged him with second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree battery and possession of a handgun by a minor. Ramos was at the Washington County Juvenile Detention Center on Friday. His bail was set at $250,000. Prosecutors said Monday they expect Ramos to remain at the juvenile detention center.
The shooting has spurred some city officials to voice concerns about possible gang-related activities.
Late Friday night and early Saturday morning, shots were fired at a home in the 100 block of Pierce Avenue, about five blocks from the apartment on Applegate Drive.
Police arrested two teenage boys, 15 and 17, in connection with the gunfire on Pierce Avenue, where no one was injured. Police are investigating if the shootings are related to Friday's fatal shooting.
Springdale Police Chief Kathy O'Kelley released a statement Saturday that said her department was talking to other agencies about Friday's fatal shooting and the potential for further violence.
Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse issued a statement Saturday assuring residents measures are being taken to address violent crime and suspected gang activity in the city.
"I know I can also speak for our City Council when I assure our citizens that we will support using whatever resources necessary in order to respond swiftly, aggressively, and effectively to the recent spike in suspected gang activity," Sprouse wrote. "For years, our police have worked with other community partners to suppress gang and drug related activity, using a variety of tools and methods. Our community must continue to work together to not only deal with the violence when it occurs, but to continue the sometimes difficult conversations and actions necessary to address the root causes of such violence."
Metro on 03/17/2015