Springdale death ruled a homicide

SPRINGDALE — Police on Thursday identified Javier Nicolas-Rodriguez, 19, of Bethel Heights as the victim of a homicide earlier in the morning.

Police found Nicolas-Rodriguez about 3 a.m. Thursday in a vehicle that had crashed in the drive of 1659 Pioneer St., in the northeast part of Springdale, according to a Police Department news release. The police report said he died of an apparent gunshot wound.

The investigation is ongoing, said Capt. Derek Hudson, a spokesman for the Springdale Police Department.

Detectives discovered many details in their investigation, but wouldn’t release any additional information Thursday, Hudson said.

Police also responded to a call of gunshots heard at 386 Wooded Ave. at 6:53 a.m. Thursday. Hudson said he doesn’t think the cases are related. The residence on Wooded lies in the southeast part of town and backs up to a wooded area, he said.

Springdale police last worked a homicide May 14. Steve March was killed in his home on Moulton

Lane, which sits in a part of Springdale in Benton County.

Police arrested Zachary Harlan, 34, on Nov. 15 on charges of capital murder, aggravated residential burglary and theft of property. Harlan remains in the Benton County Jail with no bond on all charges.

Police found a knife under March’s body as it was lying on his bed. They said they think March was asleep when he was killed. The knife was taken from a knife set on the kitchen counter.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Cars sit Thursday in front of a house at 1659 Pioneer St. in Springdale. A 19-year-old man was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound Thursday, according to a news release from the Springdale Police Department.