ROGERS, Ark. — A Rogers man arrested last year after a car dispute turned into a shooting has pleaded guilty to—and been sentenced for—attempted murder.
Cory Franklin Thompson, 29, was arrested on Dec. 30, 2022, after Rogers police responded to a shooting call at Casey's General Store at 514 North 2nd St.
Casey's employees told police that they heard gunshots and saw two men running through the parking lot, according to an affidavit. Surveillance video from the store showed two men approaching a car that began to drive away.
The men were identified as Thompson and his brother, Tyler. Thompson was seen pointing a gun at the car as it circled the Casey's parking lot. A bullet, two spent shell casings, and a lighter were all found at the scene, the affidavit said.
A detective made contact with the victim later that day, who advised that he was sitting in his car talking to a friend when Thompson approached his vehicle and told him to give [the car] back, court documents say. The victim told police that he had purchased the vehicle from Thompson on Dec. 24 for around $1,200 and that he had a bill of sale and the vehicle's title.
The victim told police that he was pulling out of the Casey's parking lot when he heard two gunshots. The affidavit notes that the detective observed a bullet hole on the victim's car.
When asked why Thompson wanted the car back, the victim said that Thompson would sell things and then rob the buyers to get the sold item back and that this is how he made money. According to the affidavit, Thompson had reported the car stolen to the Rogers Police Department on Dec. 27.
Thompson was later arrested with multiple stolen items in his possession, including the gun that police believed to be used in the shooting, the affidavit said.
Thompson was scheduled to go to trial on Dec. 12 but took a plea deal, changing his plea from not guilty to guilty and netting him 15 years in prison with a 35-year suspended sentence.
Thompson was charged with—and originally pleaded not guilty to—attempted capital murder, terroristic acts, possession of firearms by a certain person, theft of a firearm, and tampering with physical evidence. Additionally, he was charged as a habitual offender.
"Cory Thompson pleaded guilty to, among other things, attempted capital murder and possession of a firearm. The negotiated sentence was, essentially, 15 years in the department of corrections followed by 35 years suspended sentence," Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Robinson said.
Robinson says that Thompson will have to serve the full 15 years without parole eligibility on the firearm charge.
"This is the equivalent of 60 years in the Department of Corrections on attempted capital murder based upon parole eligibility on that charge," Robinson said.
"The victim did not want to be involved in the process and did not wish to cooperate with the prosecution. The excellent investigation by the Rogers Police Department allowed us to secure a conviction and substantial prison sentence for a violent offender," Robinson said.
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