JONESBORO -- A Jonesboro man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his former girlfriend, police said Tuesday.
Kent Lacey, 28, also faces charges of tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by certain persons in the slaying of Iesha Hicks, 25, of Jonesboro.
Jason Simpkins, a detective with the Jonesboro Police Department, said in an arrest affidavit filed Tuesday in Craighead County District Court that police found Hicks shot and unresponsive in front of Lacey's apartment at 4005 East Nettleton.
She was pronounced dead at the scene about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.
Lacey told police that Hicks went to his apartment to confront another person he identified as "Cliff." Lacey said "Cliff" shot Hicks through an apartment window after Hicks struck the window with her fist, Simpkins said in the affidavit.
Lacey told police that "Cliff" was in a relationship with Hicks and fled the apartment after shooting her. Lacey later said he had been in a relationship before with Hicks.
Simpkins said investigators discovered Lacey and Hicks had been in a dispute earlier that evening.
Lacey admitted Monday to shooting Hicks through the window but said it was not intentional, Simpkins said in the affidavit. Lacey also admitted to discarding the handgun and to making up the person named "Cliff."
Craighead County District Judge Keith Blackman set Lacey's bail at $1 million. Lacey remained in the Craighead County jail in Jonesboro on Tuesday evening.
If convicted of the first-degree murder charge, Lacey could receive 10 to 40 years or life in prison. He also could receive up to 26 years for the other two offenses if convicted.
Sunday's slaying was the second one in 2016 in Jonesboro, police said.
Police continued to investigate the Feb. 12 slaying of Stacey Devine, 41, of Jonesboro, who was found in a field in eastern Jonesboro.
State Desk on 04/20/2016