Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Student Charged In Shooting

A Gurdon High School student has been arrested and charged with committing a terroristic act and battery in the first degree.

These charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred following a basketball game at Arkadelphia Saturday, Feb. 5.

According to the affidavit of arrest, from 9th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Henry Morgan, RaShaun Antonio Hopson, 18, of Gurdon, allegedly fired two shots from a 9mm handgun at a vehicle occupied by four other juveniles.

One of the shots penetrated the vehicle, striking one of the occupants.

According to the affidavit, Hopson fired the shots from the bed of a pickup truck.

The report states an altercation began after the Arkadelphia High School game at AHS. It started as a heated verbal confrontation resulting in the Arkadelphia Police being called.

APD Sgt. Johnny Hill responded to the call, getting all involved calmed down somewhat and telling them to leave the school grounds.

Hopson got in the truck with three other males, all juveniles, and left.

Four others left in an Oldsmobile Cutlass, while a fifth left in a Pontiac Grand Am.

Those in the Olds and Pontiac went to a McDonalds at the intersection of Highway 8 and Malone Drive, where they got out and went in.

The truck with Hopson also went to the restaurant, arriving after the other two.

Once inside, the verbal altercation resumed between Hopson and one of those in the Oldsmobile.

This time the fight was broken up by another of those from the Cutlass, with all four of them leaving.

Hopson and those he was with went to Joseph Bailey's residence at No. 27 Carpenter Hill.

The other youths drove around town for a while, before they, too, went to Carpenter Hill to see of one of their mothers was home in No. 25. They were followed, the report states, by a Grand Am and Geo Tracker.

As the Olds approached the southwest entrance of Carpenter Hill, those in the car saw the pickup Hopson had been in coming out of the entrance.

The truck turned north onto 5th Street with those in the Olds, Grand Am and Geo Tracker following it.

As the truck neared the west parking lot of Southview Apartments, the report states, it pulled into the lot, still facing north.

The Olds pulled into the lot and as it passed the truck, the occupants saw Hopson and another youth stand up with Hopson allegedly firing two shots at the Cutlass.

One of the shots penetrated the right rear fender well, with the second going through the trunk lid and back seat where it struck one of the occupants in the right thigh.

George Tackett, an investigator with the APD, investigated the incident.

All in the truck, except Hopson, according to the report, said they saw Hopson fire the shots. Hopson, though, denied any knowledge of the incident.

Morgan said the terroristic act charge comes from the shooting a person in a car. This is a class B felony carrying a penalty of 5-20 years in the state penitentiary and a fine up to $15,000.

First degree battery is also a class B felony, with the same punishment.

Morgan said the court date will likely be set in March, but it could be continued.

At this time, he said, investigation into this incident continues and others could be charged as well.

"We have a peaceful jurisdiction," he said, "and don't have this a lot. This is the first such incident we've had in two years. We're not used to it and won't put up with it.

"We need to send a message to kids who get guns when they get mad at someone. This will not be tolerated."

Hopson continues to attend class at GHS, but is not allowed to participate in any extracurricular activities.