TEXARKANA, Ark. -- Miller County prosecutors have formally charged a Texarkana man with murder and terroristic acts in connection with a shooting on Line Ferry Road in December that resulted in another man's death.
Christopher Allen Basham, 34, allegedly came to a house Dec. 9 in the 7900 block of Line Ferry Road and argued with a woman there, according to a probable cause affidavit. When he left, Basham allegedly spun the tires of his pickup, causing ruts in the driveway of the home owned by 39-year-old Donald Haworth Jr.
Haworth allegedly sent Basham a text message telling him "to come back to the home to fix the driveway, with or without an ass whooping."
Witnesses allegedly told Miller County Sheriff's deputies that when Haworth saw Basham truck approaching his home, Haworth stepped off the porch holding a wooden baseball bat. As Haworth began walking down the driveway, Basham, still seated in his pickup, allegedly fired three shots from a shotgun, striking Haworth at least once in the chest.
Deputies were called to the home at about 1 p.m. and Haworth was taken by ambulance from the scene.
Basham came to the sheriff's office at approximately 2:30 p.m. Basham was initially arrested for battery but that charge was upped to murder following Haworth's death on Dec. 14. In addition to murder, Basham has also been charged with two counts of terroristic acts for allegedly endangering the lives of two women who were present at the house at the time of the shooting.
Haworth's girlfriend allegedly found bullet holes in the side of the house Dec. 11. MCSO Cpl. Charles Ray allegedly located two bullet holes in the east side of the house. A silver slug reportedly found inside a dresser in the home was collected by Ray as evidence.
The two women reported they were standing on the front porch of the home and witnessed the shooting Dec. 9.
Basham faces five to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $15,000 if convicted of either of the two counts of terroristic acts. If found guilty of murder, Basham faces 10 to 40 years or life in an Arkansas prison.
Basham is currently being held in the Miller County jail with bail set at $1 million. Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell is handling the prosecution.
Basham is scheduled to appear next month before Circuit Judge Brent Haltom.