Relationship entanglements turn deadly in Lewisville
LEWISVILLE, Ark. — An alleged romantic entanglement involving four people has resulted in criminal charges for three and resulted in death for a fourth.
“It’s like two triangles stacked on top of each other. Or maybe a figure eight,” Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Potter Barrett said.
Carlton Ferguson, 36, was arrested in May for allegedly kicking in the door of a house in Lewisville, Ark., where his estranged wife, Jennifer Ferguson, was living with her girlfriend, 45-year-old Kira Bradley, according to court records. Carlton Ferguson allegedly shot both women with a .22 caliber firearm. Both women survived gunshots to their heads.
Last week Jennifer Ferguson, 35, was arrested for murder for allegedly shooting Bradley with a sawed-off 12 gauge shotgun in the same Lewisville house. Jennifer Ferguson’s boyfriend, Jericho Jones, was arrested on a charge of hindering apprehension in the case for allegedly planning to “take the time” for Jennifer Ferguson and assume responsibility for Bradley’s death.
The first shooting
Lewisville police were called to 915 W. 3rd St. shortly before 10:30 p.m. April 30, according to an affidavit filed in the case. When officers arrived, Jennifer Ferguson alleged that her estranged husband, Carlton Ferguson, had kicked in the door and shot both she and her girlfriend, Kira Bradley, in their heads.
Both women survived their wounds. Officers noted blood on Jennifer Ferguson’s head and noted a wound to Bradley’s forehead. Both women were treated at a Texarkana hospital.
Ten spent shell casings for a .22 caliber weapon were collected from the house the day after the shooting,
according to search warrant documents. The documents show investigators with the Arkansas State Police documented 15 bullet holes in rooms throughout the house.
Court records show that Jennifer Ferguson signed a petition seeking a protective order against Carlton Ferguson in Lafayette County circuit court April 17. The petition alleges Carlton Ferguson was violent and threatened Jennifer Ferguson previously with a firearm.
According to the protective order petition, Carlton Ferguson and Jennifer Ferguson were married Dec. 26, 2013, and separated Feb. 7 of this year.
Circuit Judge Carlton Jones granted a temporary protective order April 27 — three days before the shooting — which prohibited Carlton Ferguson from contacting Jennifer Ferguson and forbid
him from going to her home or place of work.
Carlton Ferguson is charged in Lafayette County with aggravated residential burglary, possession of a firearm involving the commission of another crime and two counts of attempted murder. The burglary and attempted murder charges are each punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison. The weapons charge is punishable by five to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $15,000.
Carlton Ferguson has pleaded not guilty. He is scheduled for trial in January.
The second shooting
Jennifer Ferguson made an in-person report Sept. 11 at the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office, according to a probable cause affidavit. She allegedly told an officer that she worried her boyfriend, Jericho Jones, had killed her girlfriend, Kira Bradley. Jennifer Ferguson allegedly told the officer that she and Jericho Jones had been drinking together at a motel in El Dorado, Arkansas, when he told her what he had done.
Ferguson claimed she had been texting Bradley all day with no response and asked that officers check on her welfare at the house on 3rd Street.
Investigators found the front door of the house ajar and went inside. They found Bradley dead, lying face down in a large pool of blood “with massive trauma to the head.”
Jericho Jones allegedly told investigators he told Jennifer Ferguson he killed Bradley to get “cool points” but denied committing the murder. During a follow-up interview Sept. 12 with Jennifer Ferguson, she allegedly confessed.
Jennifer Ferguson said it was Jericho Jones’ idea to take credit for the killing after she told him the night of Sept. 10 that she was going to turn herself in to authorities.
“She stated Jericho (Jones) said he couldn’t let her do that. He stated he was homeless and his mother didn’t treat him right and he would do better in jail,” the affidavit states.
Jennifer Ferguson allegedly told investigators that after shooting Bradley on Sept. 10, she drove to Texarkana where she “got her nails done and went to the hair store.” After the hair store, Jennifer Ferguson allegedly claimed she went to Citi Trends, a clothing store in Texarkana. While in the store, Jennifer Ferguson allegedly called Jericho Jones and arranged to meet him in El Dorado.
Jennifer Ferguson allegedly claimed that she and Bradley got into a fight over Facebook and the argument turned physical. Jennifer Ferguson said Bradley sleeps with a sawed-off 12 gauge and that the two struggled over the firearm before Jennifer Ferguson pushed Bradley away and fired. Jennifer Ferguson allegedly told investigators she wrapped the gun and Bradley’s cell phone in a shirt and threw them into the water from the Red River Bridge on her way to Texarkana.
Jericho Jones is in Lafayette County custody on a charge of felony hindering apprehension. His bail is set at $50,000 and he is scheduled to appear in Lafayette County circuit court for a status hearing in November.
Jennifer Ferguson is in custody on a charge of murder. Her bail is set at $500,000. If found guilty of murder in Bradley’s death, she faces 10 to 40 years or life in an Arkansas prison.