De Queen Man Faces Trial After Being Ruled Fit in 2022 Double Shooting Case
A De Queen man accused of shooting his two sons during an altercation in 2022, killing one of them, has been found fit to stand trial, according to court records.
Armando Arce, 69, of De Queen, is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing on January 15 2026, with a jury trial set for January 28 in Sevier County Circuit Court. The case had previously been delayed while Arce underwent a court-ordered mental health evaluation.
Court documents show that Arce was ruled competent to proceed earlier this year after spending approximately 10 months in a state hospital. The evaluation was requested by his defense attorney and approved by the court in 2024. Records indicate Arce has the ability to understand the charges against him and the potential consequences of the proceedings.
Arce has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder related to the incident, which occurred on the evening of November 8, 2022.
According to the De Queen Police Department, officers were dispatched to a residence at 223 Bobby Lane on the north side of De Queen in reference to a reported double shooting. Upon arrival, officers found two men suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Both were transported for emergency medical treatment, but one victim died while en route to the hospital. The second victim was later treated and released.
Police identified Arce as the father of both victims.
While officers were processing the scene, police received information that one of Arce’s sons had arrived at the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, according to a probable cause affidavit. Investigators spoke with the son, who told officers he had not been in recent contact with his father and did not know his whereabouts.
A manhunt for Arce was launched that night. According to court documents, investigators returned to the Bobby Lane residence the following day, where Arce later exited the home. Officers reportedly ordered him multiple times to raise his hands, but he did not comply. He was then taken into custody without further incident.
Arce remains incarcerated in the Sevier County Jail on a $1 million bond. He is represented by the public defender’s office. The case is assigned to Ninth West Judicial Circuit Judge Bryan Chesshir and is being prosecuted by District Prosecutor Jana Bradford.
If convicted, Arce could face up to 40 years or life in prison on the first-degree murder charge.