Four People Arrested for Firing Semi-Automatic Rifle in Texarkana

Firing weapons of any kind inside the city limits is illegal. Three adults and a 17-year-old juvenile in Texarkana, Ark., were arrested yesterday for just such a charge.

On Monday, April 20, 2015, Texarkana, Ark., Police responded to a 911 call of shots fired in the 1400 Block of Laurel Street. Officers arrived on scene but the suspects had already fled the vicinity.

Authorities did determined through an initial investigation, however, that a vehicle with several occupants fired an AR-15 weapon into the air while stopped at an intersection of 14^th Street and Laurel Streets. After the incident, the vehicle allegedly drove toward North State Line Avenue. Officers scoured the area and were able to recover three .223 caliber shell casings from the scene.

While investigating the call, police officers located the suspect vehicle at a convenience store in the 1500 Block of North State Line Avenue.  The vehicle contained four suspects. They were identified as 18 year old Rakim Thurston, 19-year-old Jacob Willage, 19-year-old Neco Smith, and a 17-year-old juvenile male.

Two weapons were located in the vehicle, an AR-15 rifle and small handgun.

All four suspects were arrested and charged with carrying a weapon and could face additional charges. The suspects were arrested without incident and no injuries were reported in the firing of these weapons.

Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact Texarkana Arkansas Police at 903-798-3154 or the Texarkana area Crime Stoppers at 903-793-STOP. Remember, Texarkana Area Crime Stoppers does not need your name, just your information. If your information leads to an arrest, you could receive a cash reward.