Arrest made in death of Fort Smith store clerk
An arrest of a 15-year-old boy has been made six weeks after the deadly shooting of a Fort Smith convenience store clerk who left four young children behind.
Police Chief Danny Baker called a Friday news conference and announced the arrest had been made.
Police arrested Kemuel Mark Andrew Stucki. He was taken to a juvenile detention facility, but he will face charges as an adult due to the nature of the crime, Baker told reporters.
"Our officers and investigators have worked tirelessly since the night of Chanell's murder to solve a case that many feared might be unsolvable," Baker said.
A police tactical team in Fort Smith Thursday afternoon made the arrest on a charge of robbery in the first degree from December of a Barling store. During the arrest, evidence was found in connection with Moore's murder.
"This investigation required relentless attention to details and a commitment to bring Chanell's killer to justice," Baker said.
About 4:30 p.m. Thursday, the department's SWAT team went to the 9800 block of Mayo Drive where the team conducted a special operation, according to a Fort Smith news release.
The area of east Fort Smith near Barling has semi-rural acreages and a horse farm.
At a home off Mayo Drive, Stucki was arrested on a first-degree robbery charge in connection with a convenience store armed robbery in Barling in December he had been connected to, Baker said.
Surveillance images captured at the robbery in Barling and the one at Doug's Eastside Convenience store where Moore was shot and killed March 24 showed a person wearing the same clothes and with other similarities.
During the arrest, evidence was found that connected Stucki to Moore's shooting death.
Moore, 26, was shot and killed at 9017 Rogers Ave at Doug's Eastside Convenience Store, Friday, March 24.
Moore left behind four young children who have been with her father Charles Moore since her death.
"I'm very proud of the men and women of the FSPD and solid police work that they have done to accomplish this," Baker said.
Baker said one of the important clues in the case was a video surveillance image from a nearby business of a black sport utility vehicle. A resident saw a Mercedes-Benz SUV parked in an unusual place in the 9800 block of Mayo Drive that did not have a license plate. It had been recently removed from the vehicle, Baker said.
In April a Facebook tip led investigators to look into a Barling robbery from Dec. 12. A gun used in the robbery was owned by a person who owned the SUV on Mayo Drive.
The son of the SUV owner was identified as Stucki who had worn similar clothing in the Barling robbery and the Eastside robbery.
Stucki faces a first-degree murder charge in Sebastian County. He allegedly fired a shot at a person after fleeing the Eastside store scene, police said.
"This is an ongoing investigation and there is still evidence to process, and we don't want to do anything that would compromise the case. But I do want to express my sincere appreciation for the public's patience, assistance and the critical role they played in providing the vital information led to the arrest of Kemual Stuki."
He said the video evidence was key to cracking the case.
"I especially want to thank the family and the friends of Chanell Moore for their patience and their support in this investigation," Baker said. "My prayers remain with them in this difficult time and the Fort Smith Police Department will continue to support them and assist them through this process."Baker said.
"It's a bad situation for sure,' Baker said. "Obviously a situation like this is going to be devastating on a parent but they are working with us to see that justice is found."
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arrest made of Fort Smith boy in death of store clerk
