After nearly a year, an arrest has been made in connection to a shooting and robbery that left an El Dorado man with a gunshot wound to the thigh.
Bond was set Friday at $200,000, cash or corporate surety, for Carlton E. Shutes, 46, who made his first appearance in 35th Judicial District Court.
Shutes, who gave an address of 707 E. Third, faces several felony charges, including first-degree battery, aggravated robbery, possession of a firearm by certain persons and an enhanced penalty of felony with a firearm.
He is accused of shooting 43-year-old Willie L. Simmons, also of El Dorado.
The incident was reported July 21, 2017.
Officers were called to Simmons’s residence in the 600 block of East Fourth in reference to a male having been shot and robbed.
Upon arrival, police said Simmons was lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the left thigh.
Simmons told officers that Shutes shot him inside the residence and then robbed him.
He said Shutes stopped by the residence and locked the door after having been invited inside.
Shutes then produced a gun, demanded that Simmons “hand over his money and referred to Simmons being the police a number of times” before shooting Simmons, according to a police report.
A struggle ensued and Simmons said he tried to escape but Shutes prevented him from leaving the residence.
Simmons said Shutes again demanded money and when he noticed Simmons’s wallet on the table, he took $300 cash from the wallet.
The victim said he unlocked the door and fell through the doorway, yelling for help. He said Shutes stood over him and acted as if he were going to shoot him again, but Shutes ran away when other residents in the apartment building came outside in response to Simmons’s yelling.
Witnesses said Shutes held a handgun as he ran down the stairs and then concealed the gun behind his back, tucking it underneath his shirt.
They said Shutes ran east and headed through some brush on Calion Road.
Simmons was transported by ambulance to Medical Center of South Arkansas for treatment.
An arrest warrant was subsequently issued for Shutes.
He was taken into custody June 29 by Little Rock authorities. El Dorado police transferred him from the Pulaski County Jail to Union County.
During his first appearance hearing Friday, Shutes said he planned to hire his own defense attorney.
He was being held Friday night in the Union County Jail in lieu of bond.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.