Second suspect appears before judge in State Street shooting

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - A Craighead County woman arrested this week in connection with the Oct. 19 State Street shooting reportedly told witnesses that she drove around State Street for over a half-hour, looking to shoot someone, Jonesboro police said Thursday.

Neveyan Dillard, 24, of Jonesboro was arrested on suspicion of first-degree battery and hindering apprehension or prosecution involving the case.

Earlier this week, Jonesboro police said officers responded to the 300-block of State Street just before 8 p.m. due to a shooting. When police arrived, they found a man with a gunshot wound to his leg, abdomen, and groin.

The victim was taken to a Jonesboro hospital for his injuries.

Witnesses said a gray car pulled up to the apartment and several people got out to attack a woman sitting out front.

Witnesses identified Keuntae Finley and Dillard as the two fighting with the female victim.

A man also got out of the car with a gun.

In a probable cause affidavit, Jonesboro police say Dillard and Keuntae Finley were fighting with the female victim.

“A male subject also exited the vehicle and brandished a firearm. The male subject pointed the firearm at the female victim on the ground before aiming at the male victim and shooting him multiple times,” Jonesboro police said.

Witnesses told police that the male victim tried to get the group to leave to avoid any other incidents. However, after the shots were fired, the group left the scene in a gray vehicle.

Witnesses also said Dillard, Finley and the male subject drove around the area.

“The eyewitnesses stated that the vehicle and its occupants had been driving around the apartment complex for approximately 30-45 minutes prior to the shooting looking for the female victim. They told two eyewitnesses that they were looking for her because they wanted to shoot her,” Jonesboro police said in the affidavit. "Eyewitnesses also stated they observed multiple firearms in the possession of the three suspects at that time. “Neveyan Dillard told one eyewitness that she was going to kill the female victim.”

Jonesboro police also said Dillard was holding a pistol when she made the statement.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Jonesboro police said Dillard was arrested on suspicion of first-degree battery due to her attacking the victim, driving the suspect vehicle and holding a firearm while threatening the victim. Police also said Dillard gave a false statement about knowing the suspects, being at the crime scene that evening and making threats.

A $75,000 bond was set for Dillard, who will be arraigned Nov. 26 in circuit court.

Finley also appeared before a judge on Tuesday.

Finley was brought in for questioning and she said she was at the apartment fighting the female victim.

She told officers nobody was with her and denied the involvement of her sister and boyfriend.

The affidavit said she refused to give their names or where they lived.

She was then arrested for first-degree battery for her involvement in the shooting, along with hindering apprehension or prosecution for impeding the investigation by giving false information and harboring the suspect.

A judge also found probable cause to charge Finley with those charges. Her bond was set at $75,000.

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