Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Sin held without bond
Man tells police he was in apartment at time of shooting
BENTONVILLE — A man told police he was in the apartment when one of his roommates shot and killed another roommate, according to court documents filed Thursday.
Mei Ka
Sin, 23, is being held without bond in the Benton County Jail. He was arrested Wednesday morning in connection with capital murder.
Springdale police found Rwabuzisoni Daniel, 21, dead in an apartment at 5325 N. Oak St. on Monday night. The area is in the portion of Springdale in Benton County.
An anonymous caller told Springdale police someone had been shot. The call came in at 7:48 p.m. Monday. Police arrived and found Daniel dead.
A roommate told police he saw an altercation between Sin and Daniel. He identified Sin as the shooter and told police Sin fled after the shooting, according to the affidavit.
A second witness also told police she, too, was in the apartment. She told police Daniel went into a bedroom and Sin followed him. She then heard arguing.
She told police she heard gunshots and Sin was holding a hunting rifle, according to the affidavit.
Police found spent shell casings on the bedroom floor and another shell casing in the bathroom.
Sin appeared in court Thursday for a bond hearing. Sin is from Myanmar, and an interpreter was used by telephone for the hearing.
Jay Saxton, Benton County’s chief public defender, told Circuit Judge Robin Green he didn’t believe prosecutors have probable cause for capital murder. Saxton requested Sin be held in connection with first-degree murder.
Prosecutor Nathan Smith said the probable cause affidavit and witnesses statements are the basis for capital murder.
Smith requested Sin be held without bond. Saxton asked Green to set bond at not more than $100,000.
Green said she read the affidavit and found cause to hold Sin on capital murder.
Sin told Green he came to the United States as a refugee and he has lived in Arkansas for six months. Sin said he has family in other states, but none in Arkansas.
Sin said he previously lived in Houston and Nacogdoches, Texas.
Green ordered Sin be held in the county jail and told him not to have any contact with Daniel’s family.
Prosecutors haven’t filed a formal charge against Sin, but Smith expects one to be filed within 45 days.
Sin’s arraignment is scheduled for 8 a.m. Sept. 5.