Three sentenced in Ashdown killing

Two adult suspects in a 2017 fatal shooting in Ashdown, Ark., have changed their pleas to guilty and were recently sentenced by 9th Circuit Court Judge Tom Cooper.

A third adult suspect had three of the four charges dropped against her and pleaded guilty to a lesser offense on the fourth charge.

The suspects include Joshua King, 20; Brady Winship, 19; and Tenescha Wilkerson, 18; all of Sevier County, Ark.

The arrest affidavit states the suspects were accused of fatally shooting Desmond Smith, 19, and wounding Samari Covington, 19, both of Ashdown.

The shooting is considered gang-related, 9th Circuit Prosecutor Bryan Chesshir said.

The 911 call about the shooting on Washington Street in Ashdown was made about 1 a.m. July 16, 2017.

Initial reports said several persons in a red Dodge Charger drove by a Washington Street house looking for one of the residents. They were told to leave by a relative who suspected they were there to fight.

Smith and Covington went out to the vehicle. Shots were fired from the vehicle, striking both men and two parked cars. The Charger then drove away.

Smith was shot in the chest and died from his injuries. Covington was shot in an arm and survived.

A witness named one of the car's occupants.

Officers recovered 9 mm shell casings at the scene and notified surrounding law enforcement agencies.

The suspect vehicle was stopped by Sevier County Sheriff's Office deputies and a De Queen, Ark., police officer several hours later near De Queen.

The occupants of the car were taken into custody without incident.

The three suspects changed their pleas recently to guilty and were sentenced by Cooper.

The suspects and sentences are as follows:

 

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Brady Winship pleaded guilty on Aug. 8 in Little River County.

Count 1: Murder second degree (class "A" felony); he received 30 years Arkansas Department of Correction.

Count 2: Battery first degree (a class"B" felony)-20 years ADC.

Count 3: Discharge of firearm from a car first degree (a class "Y" felony)-40 years ADC with 10 suspended for a total of 30 years ADC.

Count 4: Discharge of firearm from a car second degree ( a class "B" felony)-20 years ADC.

All to run concurrent for a total 30 years in the ADC.

 

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Joshua King pleaded guilty on Oct. 11 in Sevier County.

Count 1: Murder second degree (class "A" felony)-he received 30 years ADC with 5 years suspended for a total of 25 years ADC.

Count 2: Battery first degree (a class"B" felony)-20 years ADC.

Count 3: Discharge of firearm from a car first degree (a class "Y" felony)-20 years ADC.

Count 4: Discharge of firearm from a car second degree ( a class "B" felony)-20 years ADC.

All to run concurrent for a total of 25 years in the ADC.

 

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Tenescha Wilkerson pleaded on Oct. 11 in Sevier County.

Count 1: Murder second degree (class "A" felony)-Dropped.

Count 2: Battery first degree (a class"B" felony)-Dropped.

Count 3: Discharge of firearm from a car first degree (a class "Y" felony) was amended to Tampering with Physical Evidence (a class "D" felony). She was given 12 months county jail, 5 years' probation, $1,000 fine and court costs.

Count 4: Discharge of firearm from a car second degree ( a class "B" felony)-Dropped.

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