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Prairie Grove Man Faces Murder Charge In Lincoln Shooting

LINCOLN (KFSM) — A 75-year-old man was arrested on charges related to a shooting that took place in Prairie Grove. William Smith of Prairie Grove faces a charge...

LINCOLN (KFSM) — A 75-year-old man was arrested on charges related to a shooting that took place in Prairie Grove.

Prairie Grove Man Faces Murder Charge In Lincoln Shooting

William Smith of Prairie Grove faces a charge of first-degree murder.

The victim, Shane Crawford, 62, was taken to the hospital Tuesday (Dec. 18) after being found with a gunshot wound in Lincoln. He later died at the hospital.

According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, witness Steve McGhee was driving on South Applehill Road when he was flagged down by Crawford, whom he didn't know.

Crawford told McGhee he had been shot, and he got into McGhee's Dodge pickup. McGhee said he saw other people in the yard where the man, who identified himself as "Shane," had been.

McGhee said he didn't see a bullet wound at first and thought Crawford was intoxicated. He took Crawford to Meade Avenue in Lincoln, then Crawford slumped over while still in the pickup.

Prairie Grove Man Faces Murder Charge In Lincoln Shooting

McGhee called 911 and spotted the gunshot wound in Crawford's back.

Paramedics arrived and took Crawford to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, where he later succumbed to his injury. His body was taken to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner's office for an autopsy.

Deputies went to the last known address at 16181 S. Applehill Road, where McGhee said he picked him up.

While there, deputies saw Smith, who they say "made spontaneous statements that he shot a man while he was speaking on the phone."

He was held for questioning, but the interview was postponed because deputies said Smith was intoxicated.

Deputies said that while clearing the home, they spotted a gun in plain view.

Deputies interviewed Smith Wednesday (Dec. 19), and he admitted shooting Crawford in the back with a .22-caliber revolver after a fight.

Smith is free on a $250,000 bond. He has a hearing set for Jan. 16, 2019, in Washington County Circuit Court.

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