Man arrested, a 2nd sought in gun fatality

FORT SMITH — Police are investigating two men in a fatal shooting Thursday night outside a Fort Smith motel.

Police arrested Noah Bell, 19, and were looking Friday for Christopher Neil Walker, 34, in the death of Ethan Meagley, 27, who was found outside the River Valley Inn at 5103 Towson Ave., a police news release said.

Police were sent to the motel at 6:46 p.m. regarding a report of an intoxicated man lying in the back parking lot of the motel. When officers arrived, they discovered that Meagley had been shot. He was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators learned that Meagley was shot during an altercation in the parking lot, the release said.

“During the course of the investigation, it was found that 19-year-old Noah Bell was somehow involved,” the release said.

Bell was arrested on an aggravated robbery charge and on two unrelated county warrants. He was being held without bail Friday in the Sebastian County jail, the release said. The charges were unrelated to the shooting, according to the release.

An arrest warrant was issued Friday in Sebastian County Circuit Court charging Walker with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The news release said Walker is considered armed and dangerous. He is believed to be homeless and does not have a phone or a vehicle.