Man pleads not guilty in Springdale shooting

FAYETTEVILLE — An Elkins man pleaded not guilty in Washington County Circuit Court on Friday to first-degree battery in connection with shooting a juvenile in Springdale after a drug deal went bad.

Asher Ellis Potter, 18, was given an Oct. 14 court date before Circuit Judge Mark Lindsay.

Potter is free on $150,000 bond while awaiting trial.

Springdale police responded to a call of gunshots just before 2 p.m. Feb. 8 in a neighborhood near Park Street and Caudle Avenue, according to a preliminary arrest report. They found a juvenile with a gunshot wound to the leg. The juvenile was taken to a hospital for treatment. The bullet shattered his tibia, the report states.

Surveillance footage captured the incident, according to police. Footage showed Potter arrived at a home and walked to a back corner, out of the camera’s view, according to the report. Potter could then be seen fleeing from three people. A fight ensued and Potter ran toward his car.

At that point, Potter was several steps ahead of his pursuers and took out a gun from his waistband, according to the report.

He turned and fired twice at the group. The three people, upon seeing the gun, had already started running away from Potter, the report says.

Potter then got in his car and left, according to the report.

Police interviewed the people Potter met at the scene. One said they tried to ambush Potter, the report says.

Potter was arrested and told investigators he went to the location to buy “wax,” according to the report. Wax is a highly concentrated form of tetrahydrocannabinol, the main intoxicating substance found in cannabis, according to the American Addiction Centers.

Potter told police that when he arrived, the people attacked him, he fled and eventually pulled out his handgun and fired twice.

Potter