A juvenile is facing murder charges in Thursday's shooting death of Lawless Kennedy on South Lake Street.
The 17-year-old was arraigned in Blytheville District Court on Monday for the homicide, as well as a March 17 terroristic act.
Judge Shannon Langston found probable cause to charge the juvenile, whose name is being withheld, in the incidents. Bond was set at $125,000 and his next court appearance is scheduled for May 28.
On Thursday, police found the 49-year-old Kennedy unresponsive lying in the 700 block of South Lake Street, after being shot in the head. Kennedy was transported to Great River Medical Center, where he died of those injuries.
"Officers were able to locate several spent aluminum-cased .380 shell casings," said Capt. Scott Adams, the Blytheville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division Commander. "Several individuals in the area advised that a small-stature black male was seen running from the scene, one advised seeing the subject flee with a handgun in hand and eventually enter a white vehicle in the area of Lake and Cherry streets."
Police received an anonymous tip that it was the juvenile offender who had fled the area on South Lake Street.
"Another witness, familiar with the offender, stated that he did see him flee the area and enter into a white vehicle shortly after hearing several shots," Adams said.
Police showed a photographic lineup to another witness who identified the offender as the subject that he had witnessed running from the area with a handgun.
BPD passed on the information to the deputy prosecuting attorney's office, which gave approval for prosecution.
On Friday, officers attempted to contact the offender at his home, but family members said he did not come home the previous night.
The offender's step-father informed police that a local pastor contacted him the previous day in reference to his step-son's possible involvement in the Kennedy homicide.
"Information was received later that evening that the offender was being driven home," Adams said. "After conducting surveillance on that house, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle seen leaving and the offender was taken into custody per warrant."
Detectives interviewed the juvenile offender, who denied the murder as well as the March terroristic act.
Adams said the offender acknowledged getting into a fight with the juvenile victim in March, but denied shooting at the subject.
"When asked about the events on Lake Street, the juvenile denied any knowledge or involvement," Adams said.
Regarding the terroristic act charge, on March 17, officers responded to a home on the 500 block of Southwest Parkway in reference to a subject who had just been shot at by a juvenile offender.
"When speaking with the victim he advised that he and the offender had gotten into a fight at Williams Park earlier in the day," Adams said. "The victim stated that after the fight he was going home when he noticed the offender standing near his (victim's) residence. The victim stated that believing 'the juvenile was up to something', he did not immediately go home."
According to the victim, he then returned later that evening to his home. The victim said that he did not see the offender at that time, at which point he exited the vehicle and walked to his door. The victim said he heard several shots and witnessed the offender shooting at him. Officers located several spent aluminum-cased .380 shell casings, which were photographed and collected as evidence.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com