By Ray King
A Pine Bluff man who has been in jail since Sept. 6 on probable cause of one murder is now facing allegations in a second one.
Hekeryin Cain, 23, is now accused of multiple charges including two counts of capital murder in connection with two of three shooting deaths that occurred Sept. 3.
During a court hearing Tuesday, Pine Bluff District Judge John Kearney ordered Cain held without bond pending the filing of formal charges.
In addition to the capital murder allegations, Cain is accused of one count of first-degree battery, three counts of committing a terroristic act, three counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle and two counts of unlawful use of property to facilitate a crime.
Deputy Prosecutor Jill Reed said during the court hearing that police were sent to a reported shooting in progress in the 1700 block of Elm Street and when they arrived at 1704 S. Elm, found the body of Emoyna Moten lying in the yard. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A second man, Cedric LaPoole, was found lying on the front porch with gunshot wounds.
Witnesses reported seeing a greenish blue Chevrolet Malibu with a male hanging out the window firing shots at the house. The witness said they saw the same car headed toward Main Street.
While officers were at that scene, there was a report of a second shooting at No. 25 Needles Drive in the Dollarway area. Officers found Kavon Mitchell with gunshot wounds and was taken to Jefferson Regional Hospital where he died.
A video from the area showed a greenish blue Chevrolet Malibu pulling up to the house, immediately followed by a blue Chevrolet Impala which rammed the Malibu from behind, causing damage to both vehicles. The occupants of both vehicles started shooting at Mitchell, wo had been sitting on his front porch. Mitchell started running before collapsing in the yard and both vehicles left the scene.
The owner of the blue Chevrolet Impala was located and told police they had loaned the car to Cain. The car had fresh damage and Cain reportedly told the owner that the vehicle had been hit while in his possession. The owner also said that while Cain was explaining how the car was damaged, Bryant Smith, who was the owner’s boyfriend arrived at the house.
Smith, 33, is also accused in both incidents and was arrested in Kansas last week and brought back to Arkansas.
Cain was questioned about the Impala and denied being in an accident and said he had never driven the car.
Police located the owner of the Malibu who said they had loaned the car to Smith, who in turn gave the keys to another person. When the car was returned, the owner refused to accept it because of damage.
When questioned by Kearney about a possible motive, Reed the shootings appeared to be gang related as Cain, Smith and a third person who has not been charged are known to be members or associates of the MOB gang while the victims were known members or associates of EBK/MG gang.
