By Ray King
A second suspect in the shooting death of a Pine Bluff man on July 18 will be held without bond following a court hearing Friday.
Pine Bluff District Judge John Kearney ruled that prosecutors have probable cause to charge Lamarcus Benton, 39, with one count of capital murder, one count of first-degree battery and being a felon in possession of a firearm because of prior convictions.
Benton is the brother of Michael King, 37, who was arrested earlier in the week and is also being held without bond on similar charges.
During the court hearing Friday, Deputy Prosecutor Ty Spradlin said on Jul7 18, police responded to a reported shooting on South Spruce Street when they found the victim, Markee Avery, 34, with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
About an hour later, police learned that there was a second victim, Avery’s brother, and he initially said he did not know who shot him or his brother but later changed his story.
Benton was ordered to have no contact with the victim and to come back to court Aug. 22.
