Suspect faces second-degree murder charge in North Little Rock homicide

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Authorities say a man is behind bars and faces an upgraded charge of second-degree murder after a shooting in North Little Rock late Wednesday night.

Police say Charles Leavy, 69, was taken into custody after admitting to detectives that he had fired a gun inside the residence.

The shooting occurred just after 9 p.m. in the 4205 block of Coral Street.

When officers arrived on the scene, they found a black male, later identified as 60-year-old Earnest McCoy, with a gunshot wound to the head.

McCoy was transported to UAMS where he later succumbed to his injuries and died.

According to the report, Leavy told detectives he fired his gun after he was awoken by someone yelling and knocking hard on his bedroom door.

A witness told police she lives at the house with McCoy and Leavy and was lying in bed when she heard McCoy knocking on Leavy's bedroom door asking for cigarettes. She then heard a single gunshot.

Leavy appeared in North Little Rock District Court Thursday at 9:00 a.m. for a charge of first-degree battery with a bond set at $100,000 during the hearing.

Because of McCoy's death, Leavy's charges have been upgraded to second-degree murder.

Leavy will appear in North Little Rock District Court for the upgraded charge on April 30 at 9:00 a.m.

Authorities say this is the third homicide for 2019.

This is an ongoing investigation, we will update the story as more information becomes available.