Suspect in ’21 murder headed to trial Monday

The trial for a Huttig man facing charges including first-degree murder and a firearm enhancement is currently set to begin on Monday.

Naikia Riley, 48, is accused in the shooting death of Terrance Williams, on Aug. 6, 2021 in Huttig.

According to court records, Union County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call on Olin Avenue in Huttig and found Williams “deceased on the ground from several apparent gunshot wounds” in August 2021.

Riley was not present at the scene when law enforcement arrived, court records state, but turned himself in soon after.

UCSO investigators spoke with two witnesses, one of whom alleged that Riley and Williams “had been having some problems” and described seeing the start of a confrontation between the two and later hearing gunshots.

Riley was interviewed by investigators and told them that the confrontation occurred in a neighbor’s driveway, which he had to drive through due to construction near his own driveway. Riley told investigators that he and his brother had been threatened by Williams but declined to elaborate further, according to court records.

The shooting, according to Riley’s statement to investigators, occurred when he exited his own vehicle “with a pistol in his right hand” and approached to attempt to speak with Williams. He allegedly told investigators that no words were spoken between the two — and that he “began shooting” when Williams, he said, attempted to remove a pistol from a holster in his own vehicle.

A two-day trial is currently set to begin on Monday in Judge Spencer Singleton’s 13th Circuit, Division 6 courtroom.