Arkansas Bedroom Shooting: Woman Charged With Hiding Shell Casings in Murder Case

A Missouri woman is jailed after allegedly concealing evidence in the fatal shooting of Triton King, 20, in Sulphur Springs, Arkansas. The alleged gunman, Hunter Anderson, 21, faces capital murder charges.

Missouri Woman Jailed for Concealing Evidence in Arkansas Fatal Shooting

A 19-year-old Missouri woman is in custody after allegedly picking up and discarding shell casings at the scene of a fatal shooting in Sulphur Springs, Arkansas, Law & Crime reports.

Morgan Young faces a charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution, according to Benton County court records. The underlying homicide case targets Hunter Anderson, 21, who stands accused of capital murder, firearms possession by certain persons, and a probation violation in connection with the death of 20-year-old Triton Michael King.

The shooting

Deputies responded on Aug. 13 to a residence on Honey Creek Road in Sulphur Springs — a small town a few miles south of the Missouri border. They found King lying face up in the doorway, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Four witnesses at the scene identified Anderson as the shooter, charging documents state. Investigators recovered 13 spent shell casings and one live round from the living room of the residence.

Witnesses told authorities that King had mentioned carrying a gun, but none of them had actually seen him with one. In the moments before the shooting, King had walked between the porch and a car outside approximately four times, an affidavit notes.

Anderson briefly left the house, then returned and sat on a bed. He then "leaned over and said something" to the homeowner's wife before he "without warning fired multiple rounds" at King, striking him several times, the affidavit reads. The woman told investigators she could not hear what Anderson said due to background noise, but caught only the word "clip" — and simply acknowledged him.

After the shooting, Anderson fled the scene. He was subsequently arrested in Missouri and led law enforcement to a pond where he had disposed of the firearm, according to the affidavit.

Evidence concealed

Young, for her part, told investigators she did not witness the entire incident but "saw part of it." Immediately after the shots were fired, she noticed several spent shell casings on the floor near her feet — one even struck her.

"Despite not knowing why, she picked up several of the shell casings and placed them in a nearby trash can," the charging document states. Other witnesses at the residence confirmed seeing Young collect the casings and throw them away.

Investigators described the casings as "potential evidence directly related to the shooting." The charging document states that Young's actions "removed this crucial evidence from the original scene, thereby interfering with the investigation," and that she acted "with the intent to hinder the apprehension, prosecution, or punishment of the person responsible for the crime."

Arrests and court dates

Young was arrested first, on Aug. 14. Anderson was taken into custody five days later. Formal charges against both were filed on Aug. 24.

Anderson is held on $500,000 bail; Young on $25,000. Both are detained at the Benton County Jail. Anderson is due back in court on Sept. 8, while Young's next appearance is scheduled for Sept. 21.

Source: Law & Crime