Shooting suspect says victim pulled knife first

Stewart
Stewart

A Hot Springs teenager who is charged with shooting a man in the leg outside a local gas station on Thursday reportedly told Hot Springs police the man pulled a knife on him first.

Christopher Deshawn Stewart II, 18, who lists a Woodlawn Avenue address, was taken into custody at 3:30 p.m. Thursday and charged with felony counts of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, punishable by up to life in prison, after drugs were allegedly found on his person and in his vehicle; first-degree battery and possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to 20 years; and possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to six years.

Stewart was being held on zero bond and was set to appear Friday in Garland County District Court.

According to a probable cause affidavit released Friday, shortly before 3:30 p.m. Thursday, police Officer Tyler Cox, who was off-duty, was traveling north on Central Avenue in his personal vehicle when he heard what sounded like a gunshot from the Valero gas station, 1201 Central.

He said he looked over and saw a black male standing on the passenger side of a black Ford Crown Victoria that was parked at the pumps facing north. He notified a dispatcher of the incident and then noted the man lowered his arms "as if lowering a firearm." The man then jumped in the Crown Victoria and drove eastbound on West Grand Avenue "at a high rate of speed."

Cox provided a description of the vehicle, which had white racing stripes and tinted windows, to the dispatcher and the vehicle was stopped by other officers three minutes later in the 100 block of Orange Street.

The driver, identified as Stewart, was taken into custody and allegedly had a loaded .40-caliber pistol in his front waistband along with a baggie containing 1 gram of suspected marijuana. The vehicle was searched and officers reportedly found a paper bag containing another 28 grams of suspected marijuana, for a total of one ounce, and some scales in the floorboard.

Officers at the Valero located a victim, Anthony Louis Sisk, 40, who had been shot in the left leg during the incident and was "bleeding profusely," the affidavit states. "Responding officers applied a tourniquet to Sisk's leg to stop the bleeding," a release from the police department said. It was noted Sisk's injury was not life-threatening and he was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Stewart was taken to the police department and, when questioned by Detective Nathan Rines, allegedly stated he was at the Valero when he saw Sisk "mouthing something to him." He said he walked inside to purchase a drink and when he came out, Sisk continued talking to him.

Stewart said he began to laugh at Sisk and Sisk became angry. Stewart said Sisk walked up to him and pulled a knife so he drew his pistol, aimed at Sisk's leg and shot him. He allegedly admitted after shooting Sisk he fled in his vehicle and also reportedly admitted all the marijuana found belonged to him.

Stewart was previously arrested on July 29 after he allegedly fled in his vehicle from a traffic stop by police and later fled on foot and hid under a house. He was charged with felony counts of fleeing and possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was later released on $6,000 bond and pleaded not guilty to the charges on Aug. 7 in district court. A felony review hearing is set for Sept. 24 on those charges.

Local on 09/08/2018

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