Judge orders fitness testing for suspect in double slaying.

HOT SPRINGS — A fitness-to-proceed evaluation has been ordered at the request of an Arkadelphia man arrested on multiple charges July 11 in the shooting deaths of two women at a Hot Springs apartment complex.

Corey Demond Smith, 39, a felon who has remained in custody without bail since his arrest, filed a “pro se,” or “in his own behalf,” motion in Garland County Circuit Court on Oct. 29 for simultaneous evaluations to determine his mental fitness to proceed and his criminal responsibility at the time of the shooting.

A review hearing on his fitness to proceed is set for Jan. 25.

Judge John Homer Wright granted his request Monday, but the court will only proceed forward with the fitness-to-proceed evaluation at this time, since that will determine if Smith had a mental disease or defect. Smith also had filed a motion to dismiss his representation, but that was withdrawn Monday and Smith will be represented by Deputy Public Defender Mark Fraiser in further proceedings.

Smith pleaded innocent Sept. 28 in circuit court to two counts of first-degree murder, punishable by up to life in prison, possession of a firearm by certain persons, punishable by up to 20 years, and felony fleeing, punishable by up to six years.

While not identified in the probable-cause affidavit issued after Smith’s arrest, the two victims in the shooting were named in subsequent court documents and identified as Jamie Hathcoat and Angela Gipson. Neither woman’s age was listed in the documents.

According to the probablecause affidavit for Smith’s arrest, shortly before 6 p.m. July 11 the Garland County sheriff’s office received multiple calls indicating two people had been shot at 935 Akers Road. One caller said a female neighbor had been shot by her boyfriend, who also had killed the apartment manager.

Callers gave a description of the suspect vehicle as a white Chrysler with “Hemi” across the brow, big chrome rims and a sunroof.

While en route to the location, sheriff’s deputies spotted a white Chrysler matching the description on Malvern Avenue headed into Hot Springs.

Deputies attempted a traffic stop on the car, determined to be a 2011 Chrysler 300, but the driver, later identified as Smith, refused to stop. A pursuit ensued and the Arkansas State Police was called for assistance. State troopers executed a Precision Immobilization Technique maneuver on the car on U.S. 70 east in Saline County.

Smith, the lone occupant of the car, was apprehended without further incident, the affidavit states.

Patrol deputies located two deceased females on the upper deck area of Building C in front of Apartment 9. Expended shell casings were located by deputies “in the area of the deceased,” the affidavit states.