Correction: During testimony in Pulaski County Circuit Court in September, Little Rock police detective Tommy Hudson said that the shooting death of Leonard Montgomery was captured on surveillance video, but the video was not clear enough to distinguish people at the scene. He said witnesses placed Tommie Ice at the scene of the killing. A story in Friday’s newspaper incorrectly stated police identified Ice as a suspect through the video.
Sherwood police arrested a second suspect Wednesday in a gang-related shooting death in Little Rock earlier this year.
Rowney "Ronnie" Torrence, 20, was charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Leonard Montgomery. Torrence was arrested in Sherwood on Thursday morning after fleeing a traffic stop, Sherwood police Capt. Kel Nicholson said.
In June, U.S. marshals arrested 24-year-old Tommie Ice in connection with Montgomery's death. He also faces a charge of first-degree murder.
Montgomery, 25, was shot to death the evening of April 18 in the parking lot of Oak Ridge Apartments, 6201 Mabelvale Cutoff Road, in what Little Rock police and witnesses described as a confrontation among feuding gang members. Police reported that Ice and Montgomery were part of opposing groups arguing in the parking lot over a longstanding issue between Ice's "Self Paid Playas" gang and Montgomery's "Highland Park Pirus" gang, also known as the "Highland Park Murdamob."
According to court affidavits, police obtained surveillance footage of the altercation that shows Ice turn and shoot Montgomery in the back as Montgomery and his group walked away about 10:19 p.m. The video shows Montgomery collapse, roll over and fire one shot in return.
The groups scattered after the gunfire. No other injuries were reported.
Police responded to Baptist Health Medical Center after learning that Montgomery had been taken there and dropped off with several gunshot wounds. He was dead by the time officers arrived.
Witnesses placed Ice at the shooting, according to Little Rock police. Details on how they connected Torrence to the slaying were unavailable Thursday, but investigators said in September that they had recovered physical evidence indicating there was at least one additional suspect.
At a bond hearing for Ice, Little Rock Detective Tommy Hudson told Pulaski County Circuit Judge Herb Wright that investigators found 15 bullet casings from two different guns at the scene, but that the casings couldn't have come from Montgomery's gun. Montgomery used a revolver that doesn't discharge spent shells, Hudson said.
Sherwood police attempted to stop Torrence about 11:40 p.m. Wednesday after he ran a stop light at Brockington Road and Kiehl Avenue, Nicholson said. Torrence purportedly drove about a half-mile to a residential area, abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot into a trailer home. He was arrested after running out the back of the residence, Nicholson said.
Sherwood police reported finding cocaine, drug paraphernalia and three handguns in Torrence's vehicle. One of the handguns had been reported stolen.
Torrence was additionally charged with fleeing, theft of property and numerous traffic, drug and firearm offenses. He was also charged with obstructing governmental operations for giving police a fake name after his arrest.
Previous court records show he has been arrested on theft, drug and gun charges and was on probation when he was arrested Wednesday.
Nicholson said that a passenger in Torrence's vehicle, Kierra Henderson, 21, of Sherwood was also arrested Wednesday. She was not charged in connection with Montgomery's death but charged Thursday with multiple drug-related felonies, including simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm.
Torrence, of 118 N. Beech St. in North Little Rock, was interviewed by Little Rock police detectives for much of Thursday morning before being booked in the Pulaski County jail. He was being held in lieu of bond.
Ice is in state custody. He was among 25 people indicted in September for allegedly participating in an interstate drug-trafficking organization based in Little Rock.
Ice has pleaded innocent in Montgomery's death, which was the 17th homicide of the year in Little Rock.
Metro on 11/07/2014