Charges filed in Newport officer's death
NEWPORT, Ark. (KATV) — Charges have been filed against two people in connection to the fatal shooting of a Newport police officer that occurred back in June.
Henry Boyce, Third Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney, confirmed Wednesday he filed charges against 16-year-old Derrick Heard from Newport and 18-year-old Tyler Calamese in the death of Lt. Patrick Weatherford.
According to Jackson County court documents, Calamese is accused of breaking into a vehicle in Newport, stealing a handgun and giving it to Heard on or about June 11.
On June 12, Lt. Patrick Weatherford and Sgt. Shane Rogers responded to a call of a vehicle break-in near the area of Bowen Street and Newport Avenue. When Lt. Weatherford arrived at the scene, he saw an individual, later identified as Heard, fleeing the area.
Lt. Weatherford chased Heard on foot and Sgt. Rogers chased him in a patrol car. Heard is then accused of firing his gun, striking and killing Weatherford, and turning and firing the gun at Rogers.
The court documents say Heard admitted to the shootings and also admitted to breaking into a vehicle, stealing a purse and fleeing when police approached.
He will be charged as an adult with capital murder, attempted capital murder, breaking or entering, theft of property and possession of a handgun by a minor.
Heard will be held in a juvenile detention center and is expected to appear in Jackson County Circuit Court on August 3.
Boyce says Calamese was charged with breaking or entering, theft of property and furnishing a deadly weapon to a minor.
He has been in custody since the shooting and will reappear in Jackson County Circuit Court in August.
“This investigation has been an intensive effort and we are confident the evidence in the case will support the charges filed today," Boyce stated.
