FAYETTEVILLE -- A Lowell man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to one charge of capital murder and one charge of attempted capital murder related to a Springdale shooting.
Franklin Antonio Soto-Ramos, 21, was given a court date of Oct. 18 in Washington County Circuit Court before Judge Mark Lindsay. Defendants typically plead not guilty as a formality at arraignment.
Officers were flagged down at Kum & Go, 1260 E. Robinson Ave., just after 3 a.m. June 22 and were told there was a shooting in the parking lot at the neighboring McDonald's, according to a news release from police.
Police said Carlos Alexander Ascencio, 18, died in the shooting. Police didn't release Ascencio's home address.
Juan Carlos Bahena-Garcia, 20, was injured in the shooting.
Witnesses told police Ascencio, Bahena-Garcia and a third man in a wheelchair entered the parking lot. They aggressively approached a group of people who were standing around their cars. Gang signs were "thrown." A physical fight ensued. Then, shots rang out.
One witness told police Soto-Ramos' brother was punched in the face. Franklin Soto-Ramos then got a gun from a nearby car and started shooting at the victims and then fled.
Soto-Ramos was tracked through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana by pinging a cellular phone that belonged to Soto-Ramos' girlfriend who was with him. Police believe Soto-Ramos has family in Indiana.
Soto-Ramos was arrested at 2:15 p.m. June 22 outside Indianapolis, according to Springdale police.
Soto-Ramos was returned to the area and booked Friday into the Washington County Detention Center. He has no bond set.
Capital murder, if convicted, is punishable by either life in prison with no possibility of parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors have not made a decision on whether to pursue the death penalty.
NW News on 07/18/2019