Second suspect arrested in Wood Street shooting
A second suspect was arrested Wednesday on felony charges in connection with the shooting of a local woman last week as she was driving down Wood Street.
Mark Anthony Perry Jr., 24, who lists a Ranch Estates Road address, was taken into custody shortly after noon Wednesday at the Hot Springs Police Department and charged with two counts of committing a terroristic act, punishable by up to life in prison, and one count of first-degree battery, punishable by up to 20 years.
He remained in custody Thursday in lieu of $150,000 bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
An alleged accomplice, Antramon Juvar Ford, 29, of Hot Springs, was arrested on June 3, the day of the shooting, on the same charges as Perry. Ford appeared via video in district court on June 5 and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was initially held on zero bond, but Judge Joe Graham set his bond at $150,000 and a felony review hearing is set for July 13.
Graham also issued a court order barring Ford from contact with the victim in the case and two witnesses.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on June 3, around 2 a.m., officers responded to 205 Wood St. regarding a shooting. They found a white Ford F-150 pickup truck off the
road in front of a residence at 216 Wood St. with multiple bullet holes in it.
Officers approached the vehicle and found the driver, identified as Melissa Passarelli, 34, of Hot Springs, who had been shot and was screaming for help. She was transported by LifeNet to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs where she was treated for gunshot wounds to her left leg.
The affidavit notes officers also found multiple bullet holes in the residence at 216 Wood, which was occupied at the time of the shooting.
Officers made contact with the occupants at 205 Wood St. after locating multiple casings in front of the house. Detective Joey Vanderburg questioned one male occupant who stated he was there visiting his girlfriend and was standing outside in the front yard smoking a cigarette.
The man and his girlfriend both told police they heard gunshots and then saw Ford in the front yard of 205 Wood shooting his gun.
Ford was questioned and reportedly stated he had seen a white truck drive by the house several times “real slow.” He said he told two other persons in the yard to “get ready” and then got his gun ready. He said as the truck came back toward the house from the east, the other two persons began shooting at it.
During the interviews with the two witnesses, it was discovered one of the other alleged shooters was named Mark Perry. Ford reportedly stated it was Perry who had an AR-15 rifle and fired at the truck as it passed.
Based on statements and further investigation, a warrant for Perry’s arrest was issued on June 4.