Bail has been set at £1 million for a Springdale man who allegedly drove a vehicle while his passenger shot at a car containing four young people. Nethanel Morales, 19, was arrested on Thursday and faces charges of attempted capital murder, battery, and unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle. Jordan Rascon-Montanez, accused of being the shooter, was arrested on Wednesday on the same charges, as well as possession of a controlled substance.
Both men were arrested in connection with a shooting incident on Monday, which resulted in a boy being taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Rascon-Montanez, 19, is currently being held in the Benton County jail with a £1 million bond. Gabriel Stultz, the deputy prosecutor, requested the same bond amount for Morales, stating that law enforcement and prosecutors believe the driver holds the same level of responsibility as the shooter. Stultz added that Morales continued pursuing the other vehicle even after the initial shots were fired. A police officer noted that Morales appeared to be positioning Rascon-Montanez to get the best shot at the fleeing car.
You may also like to watch : Who Is Kamala Harris? Biography - Parents - Husband - Sister - Career - Indian - Jamaican Heritage
During the hearing, Circuit Judge Brad Karren asked Morales if he wanted legal representation, to which Morales replied that he did not know. Morales informed the judge that he had been working at a car repair shop for nearly a year, earning £700 per month, and that his family resides in Northwest Arkansas. The judge determined that there was sufficient evidence to hold Morales in custody and set bail at £1 million. The Benton County public defender’s office was appointed to represent Morales.
The shooting incident was reported to the Rogers police at 8:54 p.m. on Monday. According to the affidavit, a minor was shot during the incident, which occurred along South Dixieland Road and at 3003 W. Oak St. Detectives learned that a group of youths had gone to a gas station to buy THC cartridges from someone they had contacted through Snapchat. The youths were in a 1995 Toyota Tacoma and were approached by a Honda Pilot. After grabbing a bag of cartridges from the Honda Pilot, one of the youths returned to the Tacoma, and the group hastily left the gas station. Two shots were fired at the Tacoma, and shell casings were later found by detectives.
The Tacoma then drove to a fire department training center and turned around, while the Honda Pilot pursued them. Witnesses reported that the passenger of the Honda Pilot, identified as Rascon-Montanez, was hanging out of the window and firing a gun as they passed. The Tacoma finally stopped at the direction of a police dispatcher, who called for medical assistance for the injured boy. The boy had been shot in the left arm, and a bullet fragment had lodged near his lung. Video evidence obtained by the police showed Rascon-Montanez and Morales leaving a residence both before and after the shooting. Detectives were informed that Rascon-Montanez promotes drugs on Snapchat. The arraignments for Morales and Rascon-Montanez have been scheduled for December 18th.
