Two Union County teens face capital murder charges in connection to a shooting Wednesday that left one man dead and another injured.
Tristan D. Waller, 19, and a 17-year-old boy are scheduled for first appearance hearings today in 35th Judicial District Court on charges of capital murder and attempted capital murder for their alleged involvement in the shooting that occurred in the Urbana community.
Capt. Jeff Stinson, chief investigator of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, declined to release the boy’s name, saying that the UCSO and the 13th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office are seeking to adjudicate him as an adult.
“It hasn’t been done yet,” Stinson said.
The pair were identified as suspects in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Brandon Parker.
Randy Miller, 22, was injured in the shooting.
Just before noon Wednesday, deputies were notified that two victims had arrived at the ProMed Ambulance substation at 1152 Strong Hwy. with apparent gunshot wounds.
Upon arrival, deputies confirmed that two men, Parker and Miller, had been shot and they learned the shooting had occurred in the Urbana area.
Parker and Miller were transported by ambulance to Medical Center of South Arkansas, where Parker was pronounced dead. Miller was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries.
A large crowd gathered outside MCSA shortly after the victims were transported there, prompting hospital officials to temporarily lock down the facility, prohibiting anyone from exiting or entering.
Parker and Miller were inside a vehicle in Urbana when the suspects opened fire, Stinson said.
“They were able to make it to the ProMed station with some assistance,” he said.
Following an investigation of the crime scene and an interview with Miller, deputies identified Waller and the 17-year-old as suspects and took them into custody a short time later in Urbana.
When asked about a possible motive, Stinson replied, “The investigation is ongoing. The circumstances in which it happened, that’s what makes (the charges) bump up to the next level (of capital murder).”
Extradition
An 18-year-old Shreveport, Louisiana, man with ties in Union County remained in the Union County Jail late Thursday afternoon, a day after an extradition hearing was held in 35th Judicial District Court for his alleged role in a shooting that occurred late last month.
Jacob Weaver was taken into custody June 3 by the U.S. Marshals Service for attempted second-degree murder in Shreveport, Louisiana.
KSLA in Shreveport reported that Weaver is the second suspect to be arrested in connection to a shooting that occurred just before 3:30 a.m. May 28 in Shreveport.
Responding officers said two vehicles were riddled with bullets in the 8100 block of Pines Road.
A short time later, officers found two victims at a nearby convenience store.
One of the victims was treated at a local hospital for two gunshot wounds to the arm and hand.
Weaver and another Shreveport man, 19-year-old Demond T. Taylor Jr., were developed as suspects and warrants for two counts each of attempted second-degree murder were subsequently issued for their arrests.
U.S. Marshals arrested Taylor May 31.
Stinson said federal authorities, acting on a Crime Stoppers tip, picked up Weaver at a convenience store in the area of U.S. 167 and Caledonia Road.
Weaver is awaiting extradition to Caddo Parish, Louisiana.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].