BENTONVILLE — Bail was set at $1 million Friday for a Springdale man accused of being the driver while his passenger shot into a car with four young men inside.
Nathaniel Morales, 19, was arrested Thursday in connection with four counts of attempted first-degree murder and battery and 12 counts of unlawfully discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
The man accused in the shooting, Jordan Rascon Montañez, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the same charges, as well as possession of a controlled substance.
The two were arrested in connection with a shooting on Monday that sent a boy to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Rascon Montanez, 19, is being held in the Benton County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond.
Deputy District Attorney Gabriel Stoltz requested the same bail amount for Morales.
Stoltz said law enforcement and prosecutors believe the driver bears the same responsibility as the shooter. Morales continued to pursue the other car even after the first two shots were fired, Stoltz said.
A police officer said it appeared as if Morales was giving Rascon-Montanez the best position to shoot at the fleeing car.
Circuit Judge Brad Karen questioned Morales about whether he wanted to hire an attorney to represent him.
Morales said he didn’t know.
He said: “Your Honor, this is the first time I have been to prison.”
He told the judge he worked at an auto repair shop for about a year and earned $700 a month. His parents, along with his brothers and sister, live in northwest Arkansas, Morales said.
The judge found there was probable cause to detain Morales on the charges. Set the bond at $1 million.
Karen appointed the Benton County Public Defender’s Office to represent Morales.
Rogers Police received a call at 8:54 PM Monday about a shooting along South Dixieland Drive and at 3003 W. Oak Street. A minor was shot in the incident, according to the affidavit.
Investigators said that at 8:39 p.m. Monday, some young men arrived at the Kum & Go gas station at 1701 W. New Hope Road to buy THC cartridges from someone on Snapchat, according to the affidavit.
The youths were in a 1995 Toyota Tacoma and parked in a parking space on the northeast corner of the building, and someone in a Honda Pilot arrived and parked it, according to the affidavit.
One of the youths went to the passenger side of the Honda Pilot and grabbed a bag of cartridges from the passenger before jumping back into the Tacoma and the group sped out of the parking lot, according to the affidavit.
There were four people in the getaway car on South Dixieland Road. Police believe two shots were fired at Tacoma. Detectives later found two shell casings in the area, according to the affidavit.
Tacoma then drove to the Rogers Fire Department Training Center at 3003 W. Oak Street and turned around, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit states that police were told that the occupant of the Honda Pilot, identified as Rascon Montanez, was hanging out the window and firing a gun as the Tacoma passed.
Young people in Tacoma stop at 2009 S. Promenade Blvd. at the direction of the dispatcher so that police officers could render aid to the wounded boy, according to the affidavit.
The boy was shot in the left arm and a bullet fragment entered his torso and stopped at his ribs near his lung, the affidavit said.
Police also obtained video of Rascon-Montanez and Morales leaving their home before and after the shooting, according to court documents.
Investigators were told Rascon-Montanez advertised drugs on Snapchat, according to the affidavit.
Morales and Rascon-Montanez are scheduled to go on trial at 8:30 a.m. on December 18.
