Jury selection is scheduled to begin this morning in Miller County for a man accused of fatally shooting another in the parking lot of a gas station in Texarkana, Ark., over a parking space.
Marvin Arrell Stanton, 49, faces ten to 40 years or life in prison if found guilty of murder in the September 2015 death of Jessie James Hamilton.
Stanton allegedly wanted Hamilton to move his car so he and his friends could park their motorcyles in the spot Hamilton was occupying, according to a search-warrant affidavit used to create the following account. According to a witness, Hamilton was prevailing in the fist fight as the two men were on the ground. The witness told investigators that Stanton's girlfriend, Emily Robinson, "ran over and grabbed the victim from behind and began to pull him away from the suspect."
As Robinson tugged on Hamilton, a space was created between the men that allowed Stanton to pull a pistol from his waistband and shoot Hamilton in the abdomen at close range.
Robinson told investigators that Stanton was "very polite" when he initially asked Hamilton to move his car. Hamilton was allegedly in his truck preparing to leave when Stanton ordered him out of the parking space.
Strong told investigators that Hamilton told Stanton he would move the car "momentarily," but Stanton demanded he move immediately. Strong said Stanton "lifted his shirt and exposed a handgun inside his front waistband, stating that he was a Marine, and unless they wanted any trouble, they'd better move," the affidavit states.
At that point, the two men began exchanging blows and fell to the ground. Strong and other witnesses told investigators that Stanton shot Hamilton after Robinson intervened. A firearm and two magazines loaded with 26 rounds of .45-caliber ammunition were recovered from Stanton.
Opening arguments and testimony from the first of the state's witnesses are expected to begin Monday following jury selection.
Stanton is currently free on bond posted on a $250,000 bail.