Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Garcia pleads not guilty in connection with shooting
FAYETTEVILLE — A Lowell man pleaded not guilty to felony charges involving a shooting near Lake Fayetteville.
Pablo Santiago Garcia, 20, entered the plea Wednesday at his arraignment. He is charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution and tampering with physical evidence.
Garcia is accused of lying to investigators and giving erroneous information in a capital murder investigation and assisting in concealing an AR-15 used to kill one and wound four others, according to court documents.
Fayetteville police received a call from Springdale police about 11:15 p.m. Feb. 15 reporting shots fired in the area of Powell Street in Springdale and Lakeview Drive in Fayetteville, according to Fayetteville police spokesman Sgt. Stephen Mauk.
When police arrived at 599 E. Lakeview Drive — the Lake Fayetteville Environmental Studies Center — they found Christian Alexander Rodriguez-Barroso, 18, of Springdale had been killed in the shooting, according to police. His body was lying in the road.
Mauk said four people were taken to hospitals with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. All of the victims were between 18 and 20 years old and lived in Springdale, he said.
Alberto Esteban-Cruz, 21, of Springdale is charged in Washington County Circuit Court with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, committing a terroristic act and engaging in a continuing criminal gang, organization or enterprise.
Esteban-Cruz admitted during an interview with Fayetteville police he was at Lake Fayetteville for a prearranged fight between a group of his friends and an opposing group, according to a police report. He told police someone pointed an AR-15 pistol in his face and threatened to kill him, the report says.
Gilberto Gordillo, 19, of 1406 Powell St. in Springdale, was arrested Feb. 21 in connection with the incident. During a court appearance March 15, he pleaded not guilty to one count of capital murder and four counts of attempted capital murder. Gordillo was given a Nov. 4 court date before Lindsay.
Jose Luis Casillas, 20, of 394 Brinley St. in Tontitown, was arrested March 20 in connection with unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, aggravated assault, terroristic threatening and engaging in a violent criminal group activity.