HOPE – A charge of Capital Murder has been filed in Hempstead County Circuit Court against Cordarianis Kenarel Hampton, 18, of Hope.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on February 15th at approximately 12:56 pm, Hope Police received a call regarding a traffic accident in the 200 block of Bill Clinton Bypass. Dispatch had informed responding officers that one of the vehicle occupants had been shot, and the vehicle wrecked attempting to make it to the hospital. Bystanders and officers conducted CPR on Rodney Demond Richardson, Jr., 20, until EMS arrived and he was transported to Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 1:29 pm.
Later that afternoon, Hope Police Detective Eric Green interviewed Hampton, who according to the affidavit, was in custody after “turning himself in during this incident.” The filing said he was read his Miranda rights.
Hampton, in the affidavit, allegedly stated several days before the incident he had found a FN 10mm pistol. (FN is a brand name.) He further allegedly stated on February 10th he traded the pistol to Richardson for a Glock pistol. Hampton alleges in the affidavit Richardson texted him “wanting to trade back.”
In the probable cause document, Hampton allegedly stated that he agreed to the trade. While meeting in front of Richardson’s house February 15th, the affidavit states Hampton allegedly asks if anything was wrong with the gun and Richardson allegedly stated he just wanted the Glock back.
According to the affidavit, an individual inside the house said he heard a gunshot and looked out a window and saw Richardson running toward the house. A third person at the residence and Richardson then start to the hospital. The vehicle wrecked enroute.
Authorities also have charged Hampton with Theft of Property, for allegedly taking Richardson’s firearm, and with Tampering with Physical Evidence, Count 1, for allegedly with the purpose to alter, destroy, suppress, remove, or conceal anything, namely a 10mm FN 510 Tactical handgun, and Count 2, for allegedly with the purpose to alter, destroy, suppress, remove, or conceal anything, namely a Glock handgun. Both charges allege “with the purpose of impairing its verity, legibility, or availability in official proceeding.”
Hampton was formally charged Tuesday, April 14th and had been in custody since the incident. Bond is $1,000,000.