A man accused of shooting at a parked pickup truck in the parking lot of a Jonesboro Walmart now faces multiple charges, including a felony property damage count. His bond has been set at $50,000, according to court records released Friday.
The incident occurred on the evening of Oct. 14 at the Walmart on Highland Drive. Hayden Paul Freeman, the suspect, appeared in court on Oct. 16, where a judge mandated an ankle monitor as a condition of his release. No injuries were reported in the incident, Jonesboro police previously confirmed.
According to a probable cause affidavit by Detective Adam Hampton, police responded to multiple emergency calls reporting an active shooter in the parking lot. Upon arriving, officers located Freeman sitting inside a car that matched the description provided by witnesses.
The affidavit states that Freeman initially exited the car at police command but acted non-compliantly, alternating between laying on the ground and standing. Officers ultimately detained him by physically restraining and handcuffing him. Witnesses at the scene reported Freeman had been acting erratically prior to the shooting, attempting to enter a white pickup truck parked nearby. When his attempts to open the vehicle’s doors and handles failed, he allegedly returned to his vehicle and opened fire.
The gunfire damaged the truck extensively. It flattened two tires, pierced the fender well, struck the bed of the truck, and damaged a wheel and tire on the opposite side, according to the affidavit. Investigators recovered a firearm and 13 to 14 spent shell casings from Freeman’s vehicle.
Video footage reviewed by detectives reportedly corroborates witness accounts of Freeman pulling on the pickup’s doors and later firing from inside his car. Following his arrest, Freeman was taken to the jail but then transported to St. Bernards Medical Center for treatment. Authorities placed him on a mental health hold after observing signs of distress.
Freeman faces a Class D felony charge of first-degree criminal mischief for property damage exceeding $1,000 but less than $5,000. Additionally, he is charged with four misdemeanors: discharging a firearm within city limits, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and carrying a weapon.
A judge found probable cause for Freeman’s detention as the case proceeds. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 23 at 8:30 a.m. in the Craighead County Courthouse.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.