An 18-year-old Hope man is facing capital murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man in February.
Cordarianis Kenarel Hampton turned himself in shortly after the shooting of Rodney Richardson Jr. on the afternoon of Feb. 15 in front of a residence in the 900 block of Beech Street, according to court records.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Hampton told investigators he had found a pistol about a week before the shooting and traded it to Richardson for a different gun. Hampton claimed Richardson wanted to trade back and the two were meeting Feb. 15 to make that transaction.
Hampton allegedly sat in the driver’s seat of his car as Richardson leaned into the car through the open passenger side door. Hampton allegedly fired a single shot, killing Richardson, before fleeing the scene with two handguns, the affidavit said.
Bystanders attempted to transport Richardson to an area hospital but were involved in a traffic accident along the route. Richardson was pronounced dead at the hospital the same afternoon.
Hampton is also charged with theft of a firearm and tampering with physical evidence for allegedly attempting to conceal or destroy a Glock 9mm handgun, court records show.
If convicted of capital murder, Hampton faces life without parole or death. The theft of a firearm and tampering charges each carry a potential sentence of up to six years, a fine up to $10,000, or both.
Hampton is currently in Hempstead County custody with bail set at $1 million. Texarkana attorney Charles Friday has been appointed to represent Hampton. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Duncan Culpepper.