De Queen Man Accused of Shooting Sons Ordered to State Hospital

A De Queen man accused of fatally shooting one son and injuring another during an altercation in 2022 has been ordered to spend the next 10 months in a state hospital for mental health treatment.

67-year-old Armando Arce underwent a mental health evaluation last year to determine whether he was fit to stand trial. The evaluation was requested by Arce’s attorney and approved by the court. Recent court documents, filed last month, indicate that the state has concluded Arce is not fit to proceed with his criminal trial at this time.

In response to the findings, the court has ordered the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health Services, to take Arce into custody and place him in a state hospital for a period of 10 months. A hearing is scheduled for August 2025 to assess whether Arce has regained the mental fitness to stand trial and to determine whether he still poses a danger to himself or others.

Arce is facing charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder following an incident on November 8, 2022. According to the De Queen Police Department, officers were called to 223 Bobby Lane on the north side of De Queen in response to a double shooting. Upon arrival, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim died en route to the hospital, while the other survived and was treated for his injuries.

Arce was identified as the father of both victims, and he was quickly developed as a suspect. Authorities initiated a manhunt for Arce that evening, and he was apprehended less than 24 hours later near the scene of the shooting.

Arce remains in the Sevier County Jail on a $1,000,000 bond. If he is determined fit to stand trial and convicted, he could face up to 40 years to life in prison for the first-degree murder charge.