$1 million bail set for suspect in fatal Texarkana shooting

TEXARKANA — Bail has been set at $1 million for a man accused of fatally shooting a woman in the face early Wednesday in the parking lot of a Texarkana apartment complex.

Markelle Demetrice Davis, 19, made an initial court appearance Thursday before District Judge Wren Autrey at the Miller County jail courtroom. Davis told the court he intends to hire his own lawyer and did not request a public defender.

Davis is accused of killing Jaqualyn Paxton, 18, with a single shot fired in the parking lot of the Village Park South apartments at 2225 East St. shortly after midnight Wednesday, according to a probable-cause affidavit.

Miller County sheriff’s deputies who were parked in the 2300 block of East Street witnessed a disturbance and heard a shot from across the street, the affidavit said.

Deputies saw a 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra speeding from the scene, stopped the car and took Davis into custody two blocks from the site of the shooting, according to the affidavit. Davis advised deputies that his pistol was in the car, but they were unable to find it. Two pistol magazines were found in his pockets and the car was seized, the affidavit said.

Texarkana police responded to the report of a shooting about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday and discovered that Paxton had been taken to Wadley Regional Medical Center by civilians in a private car. Two civilians said they were driving through the parking lot when they witnessed Davis and Paxton arguing and then heard a shot.

The witnesses said they saw Davis driving away before seeing Paxton lying on the pavement, the affidavit said.

The witnesses told police they placed Paxton in their car and drove her to Wadley, where she later died.

Police believe Paxton and Davis were engaged in an altercation at the time of the shooting. Other witnesses reported seeing the shooting and identified Davis as the shooter, the affidavit said.

If convicted, Davis faces 10 to 40 years or life in prison.