Paragould, AR – Contributed – Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Sonia F. Hagood announced that Matthew Jaimes has pleaded guilty to one count of Murder in the First Degree and one count of Battery in the First Degree.
Jaimes was sentenced to forty years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
“This was a senseless and tragic act of violence,” Butler said. “This resolution reflects the seriousness of these crimes and demonstrates our commitment to aggressively prosecuting violent offenders who threaten the safety of our community.”
On Nov. 27, 2023, officers with the Paragould Police Department were dispatched to the area of Reynolds Road and Country Club Road after reports that Jaimes was waving at and striking vehicles. Jaimes told officers that his grandfather was having a seizure.
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When officers arrived at the residence, they discovered two victims suffering from gunshot wounds inside the home. One victim was lying on the floor surrounded by blood and was able to tell officers that Jaimes had shot both victims. A second victim was found unresponsive in the hallway and was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators observed multiple shell casings and bullet holes throughout the residence. During a search of the area between the residence and where Jaimes had first been located, members of the Paragould Police Department and Paragould Fire Department recovered a .40 caliber handgun from a nearby ditch.
On Nov. 28, 2023, Jaimes participated in a Mirandized interview and made incriminating statements regarding the shootings.
Although Jaimes was 17 years old at the time of the offenses, the State elected to prosecute him as an adult due to the violent and heinous nature of the crimes.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Adam Butler, Wesley Watts, and Bradley McBride.
Prosecuting Attorney Hagood expressed appreciation to all law enforcement officers and first responders involved in the investigation, particularly Detective Sgt. Jacob Higdon and the Paragould Police Department for their work on the case.
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