JONESBORO, Ark. — Two men from Jonesboro have been charged with felonies after an alleged shooting on Westwood Drive left a juvenile grazed by gunfire. According to court documents, the encounter occurred on Oct. 16 during a meeting reportedly arranged for a marijuana sale.
Laryarbrough Mullins, 20, and Jakarius Lamont Clay, 20, are accused of first-degree battery and aggravated assault. Clay also faces a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage. Both suspects appeared in court on Oct. 19, where a judge set their bonds at $250,000 cash or surety each, with ankle monitoring required.
Authorities say Mullins, the passenger in the vehicle involved, admitted firing a handgun as the truck drove away, citing a fear of being robbed. Clay, the alleged driver, reportedly agreed to participate in the meeting and fled the scene during the gunfire, according to affidavits.
The incident was reported to police around 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 16. Witnesses told officers that a red or maroon pickup truck left the scene “at a high rate of speed” after shots were fired. Video footage and witness statements indicate the shots were fired at two juveniles who had been speaking with the truck’s occupants. A 17-year-old male sustained what police described as a minor injury: a grazed laceration to his left ankle.
Investigators allege that the meeting involved an attempt to sell marijuana. Statements in the affidavits indicate that after the juveniles declined to proceed with the purchase, Mullins, identified as the front-seat passenger, opened fire with a tan handgun and then fled with Clay in the truck.
Officers located the vehicle later that day at a residence on Oriole Drive after reviewing footage from intersection cameras. At the home, three individuals, including Mullins and Clay, were interviewed. Mullins told investigators he fired from inside the truck because he believed the juveniles were attempting to rob him. A search of the vehicle uncovered two firearms in the center console, including one that matched witness descriptions and evidence collected at the scene.
Clay admitted transporting the group to the meeting, fleeing during the gunfire, and colliding with another vehicle before parking at the Oriole Drive location, documents state.
At their first court appearances, the judge found probable cause to bind both men over for trial on the felony charges. The first-degree battery charge, classified as a Class B felony, carries a potential penalty of five to 20 years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines. Aggravated assault, a Class D felony, is punishable by up to six years and a $10,000 fine. Clay's misdemeanor charge could result in up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine if convicted. These penalties represent the maximum under Arkansas law.
Both suspects are due back in court on Nov. 23 at 8:30 a.m. at the Craighead County Courthouse.