Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Discovered gun could be murder weapon

A weapon has been found and police are considering that it could have been used in the November 11 murder of a Prescott man.

Samuel Brooks, 77, was killed in his home on Cale Road and his wife, Murlean Brooks, 73, survived a brutal attack.

According to information from the Arkansas State Police, a weapon was found in an area near the Brooks home.

There was a weapon found in the area, said Sgt. John Bishop, supervisor of the Hope Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division. It was found by a citizen, I understand.

Bishop said the gun was discovered a couple of weeks ago, but said he didnt know the exact date.

According to Bishop, the gun is currently being analyzed at the State Police Crime Lab.

Bishop said there have been no charges filed in the case, but that officers continue to work on leads.

Its an active investigation, but we have nothing new at this time, Bishop said Friday, March 30.

The murder was reported in the early morning hours of Nov. 11 when Mrs. Brooks stopped a passing motorist. She was reportedly in her vehicle and was covered in blood. She told the man that her husband had been killed and was still in the home on Cale Road.

Prescott Police Chief Brian Russell lives only a few blocks away and was called to the scene by the man who found Mrs. Brooks.

At the time of the incident, Bishop confirmed that both victims had been shot multiple times. Mrs. Brooks was taken by ambulance to Medical Park Hospital in Hope. About a week later family members said that she was recovering.

Samuel Brooks funeral was held Nov. 18 at the Prescott High School auditorium. Though there have been rumors and speculation over the intervening months, police have made no arrests. Bishop said Friday that officers have no particular suspect in mind.

Early reports indicated that the man entered the Brooks home sometime in the early morning hours of Nov. 11. The grey brick home is set back only a short distance from the road and local officers say they still hope someone might come forward with information.