An 18-year-old Texarkana man is accused of running through the Texarkana, Arkansas, School District football stadium parking lot with a gun following a recent high school game.
Dionko Ray Horton Jr. was identified by multiple bystanders as the person who chasing another while carrying a loaded Ruger .22 caliber pistol Sept. 28 after Arkansas High’s game against a Camden, Ark., football team, according to a probable cause affidavit. A Texarkana, Ark., police officer patrolling the game was flagged down by several people who reported seeing a man chasing another man in the crowded stadium parking lot at about 10:30 p.m.
As the officer called for back up and began a search for the armed suspect, a T.A.S.D. school security officer approached the Texarkana, Ark., Police Department officer with a black .22 caliber Ruger pistol which was wrapped up in a red shirt. The security officer said a witness had given him the gun and pointed to a man with dreadlocks who was yelling and cursing at others as if to provoke a fight.
The man didn’t notice as the T.A.P.D. officer walked up behind him and grabbed his arms. The suspect, identified as Horton, struggled with the officer but was placed in handcuffs. Horton allegedly continued to resist arrest after being cuffed and had to be physically maneuvered into a patrol car by two officers.
A man who was leaving the football game with his family told officers that as he was nearing his car, a man ran past him with a gun which he was pointing at another man he was chasing. The witness reported that as he quickly buckled his child into a car seat and got his other family members inside the car, he heard the sound of the gun hitting the parking lot surface.
Fearing that the man who dropped the gun might come back for it or that someone else could pick it up, the man wrapped the gun in a red shirt and gave to the school security officer.
Police were not able to determine who it was that Horton was allegedly chasing while waving the pistol. Officers cleared a single bullet from the weapon’s chamber and emptied three additional rounds from the magazine.
Horton allegedly appeared intoxicated as he exhibited slurred speech, red eyes and swayed while he walked. According to the affidavit, Horton and his clothing smelled of synthetic marijuana.
Horton was arrested for four misdemeanors: carrying a weapon, public intoxication, disorderly conduct and refusing arrest. Horton was also charged with felony possession of a firearm on school property.
At a court hearing Oct. 2, Circuit Judge Brent Haltom set Horton’s bail at $10,000 and scheduled him to return to court Oct. 16. Horton posted bond and was released from the Miller County jail the same day.
