Texarkana Man Facing Murder, Other Charges, In Fatal Miller County Shooting

TEXARKANA, Ark. – A man accused of murder in the May shooting death of a Genoa, Ark., man is facing additional charges of endangering the welfare of a minor, felon in possession of a firearm, hindering and violation of a no-contact order.

Joseph Preston Richardson III, 24, is accused of murder in connection with the May 22 shooting of Clay Walker. Walker, 43, was shot once in the head outside of a residence in the 1700 block of Coca Cola Road, according to earlier reports from the Miller County Sheriff’s Office.

Richardson allegedly fled the scene with his wife and 7-year-old child in a white pickup truck, according to court records. Walker was arrested in Bowie County, Texas, and refused to be extradited to Arkansas, records show. He was handed over to authorities in Arkansas in June.

Prosecutors in Miller County formally filed felony charges of murder, endangering the welfare of a minor and possession of a firearm by certain persons last week. On Tuesday, an additional charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution was filed.

Richardson faces ten to 40 years or life in prison if convicted of murder. If found guilty of endangering the welfare of his child, Richardson faces up to six years in prison, a fine up to $10,000, or both.

If convicted of possessing a firearm while prohibited from doing so because of a prior felony conviction, Richardson faces five to 20 years in prison, a fine up to $15,000, or both. If found guilty of hindering, Richardson faces three to ten years in prison, a fine up to $10,000, or both.

Richardson’s bail has been set at $1 million. However, he can be held without bond on a motion to revoke the conditions of his release on a suspended sentence stemming from 2021 convictions for commercial burglary and breaking and entering.

Richardson pleaded guilty to the burglary and breaking and entering charges in May 2021 and received a term of probation. Later that year, Richardson’s probation was revoked and he was sentenced to four years in the Arkansas Department of Correction to be followed by two years of a suspended sentence.

Prosecutors in Miller County filed an amended motion to revoke Richardson’s suspended sentence last week, citing his arrest for murder and other charges and failure to pay anything toward a fine and other court fees, records show.

Richardson is currently being held in the Miller County jail. He is scheduled to appear in Miller County circuit court later this month. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Wren Autrey.