Second drive-by suspect sentenced
Canady, 19, pleads guilty to ’20 shooting, receives six years
The second of four suspects arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting last year was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court. James Martez Canady, 19, of Hot Springs, pleaded guilty to one count of committing a terroristic act, punishable by up to 20 years, and was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay $440 in court costs upon his release. A felony charge of theft by receiving from a later arrest was withdrawn by prosecutors as part of the plea agreement.
Canady was arrested on Aug. 29, 2020, in connection with the April 22, 2020, shooting and initially held on zero bond. He pleaded not guilty on Nov. 3 and was released on a $100,000 bond. On Feb. 5, he was arrested on the theft by receiving charge and on July 27 his bond was revoked on the terroristic act charge and he had remained in custody since then.
One accomplice, Virgil Pierre Doss, 20, of Hot Springs, who was arrested April 27, 2020, pleaded guilty on April 20, 2021, to committing a terroristic act and was sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to pay $190 in court costs.
One alleged accomplice, Kylan D’Andrea Allison, 20, of Hot Springs, was arrested the same time as Doss and is set for
a disposition hearing on Oct. 26. A second alleged accomplice, Kwinlon Staggers, 19, of Malvern, was arrested on Nov. 30 and is set for a disposition hearing today in circuit court.
There was reportedly a fifth suspect involved who has not been identified or arrested.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on April 22, 2020, shortly after noon, an unknown suspect in a silver 2020 Kia Sorento SUV fired several shots at 120 Pinewood St., hitting the house and a vehicle parked out front. No one was injured and it was noted one of the listed residents, identified as Doss, was not home at the time of the shooting.
Around 4:30 p.m. that same day, police responded to the area of North Patterson and Rector streets regarding shots fired and found that the residence at 412 N. Patterson had been hit by gunfire numerous times with bullets going into interior rooms and 33 spent cartridge cases were found in the yard and on the street. No one was injured.
A witness who heard the shots reported seeing a gray Toyota Camry occupied by several people fleeing the area and was able to give officers the license plate number. Video surveillance was obtained from the area that showed four suspects exit the Camry and begin shooting at the house while the driver, later allegedly identified as Allison, stayed in the car.
On April 27, Allison was arrested on an unrelated theft warrant and he and Doss, who was with him at the time, were taken to the police department where they were questioned about the shooting.
Doss reportedly said he knew about the shooting on North Patterson, but “had nothing to do with it.” He admitted to taking two guns out of his house on Pinewood and loading them into Allison’s car. Doss provided paperwork showing where and when he had purchased the guns on April 22, just 45 minutes before the shooting.
Video from the pawnshop where the guns were purchased reportedly shows Allison, Doss, Canady and Staggers arriving at the shop where they waited while Doss purchased the guns. It was noted Doss and Staggers were wearing all black while Canady was wearing a blue hoodie and light-colored jeans, matching the clothing worn by three of the four suspects seen firing at the house on North Patterson.
When confronted with this information, Allison reportedly admitted he was the driver of the Camry and knew the other suspects, including Doss, Canady, Staggers and the fifth suspect, were armed and were going to the house on North Patterson to shoot it.
Detective Scott Lampinen knew Canady from another incident and identified him in the video. He sent a photo of Staggers out to patrol officers and an officer located a social media profile for him and forwarded it to Lampinen who was able to verify it was him in the video.