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Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Trial Delayed Until 2024 for Man Arrested in Fayetteville Murder

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The trial for Dominic Heal, a 20-year-old man who was arrested in August for the murder of 22-year-old Aveyun Smith, has been delayed until April 16, 2024, due to incomplete crime reports, according to court documents.

The incident occurred on August 15, when officers responded to a reported shooting and found Smith, the victim, already transported to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Witnesses reported seeing two men leaving an apartment complex off Leverett Avenue in a “white four-door passenger car,” with one of them appearing to be bleeding, as per police reports.

Further investigation revealed that Heal and an unidentified male allegedly stole a white minivan from a residence on Mockingbird Lane in Fayetteville on August 12. Witnesses later reported seeing a white van driving through the apartment complex parking lot, matching the description of the stolen vehicle, before witnessing a shooting incident involving Smith.

The witnesses described observing a “green ‘laser'” from the minivan being pointed at Smith, followed by multiple gunshots. The minivan then sped away north on North Leverett Avenue, according to their accounts. Police records also indicate that a witness stated Heal had lent Smith a gun a few days prior to the shooting, but Smith failed to return it, causing Heal to become angry.

In a surprising turn of events, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) received a tip about an abandoned white minivan near Bug Scuffle Road and Old Cove City Road, close to Arkansas State Highway 220, on September 23. The minivan was confirmed to be the stolen vehicle from August 12, and although minimal damage was done, the interior of the vehicle had been set on fire.

Heal was arrested on October 2 for breaking and entering and theft in an unrelated investigation. During a search warrant, law enforcement discovered a pistol with a green laser light attached to it, and the ammunition matched the rounds found at the shooting scene on North Leverett Avenue.

According to the police report, Heal admitted to firing his gun towards Smith from the sunroof of his vehicle, claiming he believed Smith had fired shots at him first. Furthermore, Heal confessed to leaving the stolen van in rural Prairie Grove and setting it on fire in an attempt to hide evidence.

Dominic Heal is now facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder and evidence tampering, as a result of his alleged involvement in the shooting death of Aveyun Smith.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story from 5NEWS.

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