An accused killer was arraigned Wednesday, and remains behind bars on $1 million bond. 20-year-old Artavius Brown, Senior, was booked Tuesday morning and is charged with two counts of second degree murder, following a deadly shooting Sunday outside a Raleigh Kmart.
Police said Brown shot and killed the fiancé of his baby’s mother after an argument during a child visitation exchange Sunday outside the Kmart on Austin Peay Highway, and took off with the child. The boy turned up safe later that night at a Memphis police station.
The child’s mother, Sarell Hicks tells Local 24 she and her one-year-old son are still very shaken up by what happened, and while she’s happy Brown is in custody, she doesn’t agree with his charges.
“I just keep having those images in my head. I’m just taking it day by day,” says Hicks.
Hicks said she’s still grasping the reality from the crime she saw unfold Sunday afternoon. Police say Brown opened fire and killed her fiancé, Regenald Williams, after the child visitation exchange turned violent.
“I feel safer now that he is arrested but I don’t think it’s right it’s second degree murder. It should be first degree,” says Hicks.
Hicks said Williams and Brown, along with Brown’s father, exchanged words and began fighting, when things escalated even further.
“He just went to his car, got his gun, once he got his gun, he didn’t even have to cock it or anything and Regenald just fell back and he stood over and shot him again,” says Hicks.
Artavius Brown, Sr.’s next court date is set for November 8th.
