Murder suspect extradited, to appear in court today

By Tia Lyons

Staff Writer

Jacovis D. James, an El Dorado man who is accused of two counts each of capital murder and attempted capital murder, has been extradited from Texas and will make his first appearance at 10 a.m. today in 35th Judicial District Court.

James, 23, who has given an address of 1311 W. First, Apt. 73, had evaded arrest for a month after a shooting left two people dead and two gravely injured at a residence on White Quarters.

He was apprehended Nov. 28 in Houston.

Acting on tips, the El Dorado Police Department worked with the U.S. Marshals Service to track James to a residence in Houston.

James waived an extradition hearing in Houston, and after he was cleared for release by Texas warrant officers, local police headed to Houston early Wednesday morning to transport James back to El Dorado.

He was booked into the Union County Jail late Wednesday night, said Lt. Scott Harwell, of the EPD.

Officers responded at 12:30 a.m. Oct. 28 to a report of shots fired at a mobile home at White Quarters, No. 2.

Upon arrival, officers saw that the front door was open and heard a woman’s voice inside the residence calling for help.

Aric D. Hall, 28 of El Dorado, and 30-year-old Darrishica Rogers of North Little Rock were pronounced dead on the scene.

Remondo B. Caver, 29, and Marquesha D. Young, 26, both of El Dorado, sustained grave injuries.

The gunshot victims were scattered throughout various rooms inside the residence, police said, noting that each of the victims had been shot multiple times.

James was immediately identified as a suspect and a warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest on two counts of capital murder, two counts of attempted capital murder, aggravated robbery and an enhanced penalty of felony with a firearm.

He was also wanted on felony arrest warrants for incidents that were reported prior to the shooting.

James faces additional charges of theft of property and breaking or entering in connection to the theft of $7,250.72 cash from McDonald’s, 1703 N. West Ave.

The theft was reported Sept. 23 and was captured on surveillance video, according to a police report.

James, then an employee of the fast food restaurant, was seen on surveillance video entering the manager’s office, opening the restaurant safe and removing something from the safe.

An employee told officers that James was not authorized to access the safe.

Three bank deposit bags, which contained the cash, were later found inside a dumpster, employees said, noting that James headed toward the dumpster with a trash bag after leaving the manager’s office.

A bench warrant was issued Oct. 18 after James failed to show for a Union County Circuit Court appearance on charges stemming from an April 3 arrest by the EPD.

Police said James fled when they initiated a traffic stop in the area of College and Faulkner.

Police said they caught up with the SUV, which was driven by James, after it entered the turned west on Hillsboro and entered the Haygood-Neal apartment complex and came to a stop in a cul-de-sac there.

James was taken into custody, and during a search incident to arrest, police reportedly found marijuana and Hydrocodone pills inside a pill bottle that was tucked inside his waistband.

He was arrested then for possession of a controlled substance (Hydrocodone), possession of marijuana, fleeing (auto) and driving on a suspended license.

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.

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