By Ray King
The first of two men accused of firing shots at security guards at the Saracen Casino last week will have to post a $150,000 bond to be released from the adult detention center while prosecutors prepare formal charges against him.
Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth set the bond after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge Brandon Burnett, 27, with first-degree battery and with five counts of discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
A second suspect, Tirek Langel, 22, was expected to turn himself in to police on Wednesday.
During the court hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Jill Reed said Burnett, Langel, and three other men had gone to the casino and while there, Langel began arguing with someone inside the casino. Langel, Burnett and the others were asked to leave and Reed said there was a scuffle and a physical altercation at the door as the men were pushed outside and told to go to their car.
Langel reportedly said he was “going to get his gun and shoot up the place”, and Reed described what happened next.
Langel then got back in the car, which was driven by Burnett, Reed said, adding:
Reed said police recovered five shell casings at the scene.
Attorney Cara Conners appeared during the court hearing and said she would be representing Burnett. She said Burnett had no prior convictions and works for the Arkansas Department of Corrections. She said his car was hit by seven bullets fired by the casino security officers and he was “in fear for his life.”
She asked that the bond be reduced to $50,000 but Bridgforth said no after Reed said it was true that Burnett had no criminal record but the point was that witnesses said Burnett fired shots at security officers out the window of his car.
