SPRINGDALE, Ark. — A man is dead, and a suspect is in custody following a shooting Friday, May 6, morning in Springdale.
“He was a really, really giving person and didn’t deserve any of that,” said Cuneo’s friend, Jody Randall.
Washington County deputies were called to a home in the 19100 block of Sonora Road for a person who had been shot. Central EMS also responded, and a man, now identified as Joseph Cuneo, was found dead at the scene, according to Kelly Cantrell, public information officer with the Washington County Sheriff's Office (WCSO).
Randall says Cuneo also leaves behind his mother, who Cuneo and his brother loved.
“They were her world,” Randall said. "They lived with her. They’re mama’s boys. They take care of her.”
“It’s going to take all of us to work together to kind of get through it,” said Randall As Cuneo’s family works on funeral arrangements.
According to a report from WCSO, residents at the home where the shooting took place allegedly saw 18-year-old Uriel Martinez holding a black rifle in the living room where Cuneo was found shot. The report says Martinez and another person, police identified as Veronica Venegas, got into Cuneo's vehicle and fled.
The pair ditched the vehicle at another location and then allegedly broke into a home on Recreation Drive in Benton County. When a deputy arrived at the home, Martinez allegedly would not comply and yelled at the deputy to kill him, according to the report.
The deputy and the homeowner, who was there at the time of the break-in, had to physically fight Martinez to get him handcuffed. The report states that Martinez kicked and spit on them.
Police say Venegas fled the scene on foot while they were trying to detain Martinez.
The report states Martinez was found with a live .223 caliber round in his pocket and that a spent .223 shell casing and a live round was found at the scene of the shooting.
Martinez was arrested and is facing charges of capital murder and aggravated robbery.
The sheriff's office does not believe there are any other threats to the public.
Cuneo's body was transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for an autopsy.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
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