In LITTLE ROCK, Ark., new court documents filed on Thursday shed light on the death of a Little Rock School District worker on Wednesday outside the Rockefeller Early Childhood Center.
Authorities from the Little Rock police shared on Thursday that 36-year-old Michelle Butler from Little Rock lost her life due to “apparent gunshot wounds.” The records reveal that 29-year-old Duane Nooner confessed to detectives that he repeatedly drove over Butler with his vehicle and subsequently retrieved a handgun from Butler’s nearby vehicle before shooting her several times.
During a court appearance on Thursday, Nooner pleaded not guilty to a capital murder charge. His upcoming court date is scheduled for Oct. 20. He is currently held at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility with no bond set.
He was taken into custody within 30 minutes of Butler’s death, according to court records.
Records filed with the court appearance today include the detective’s report on Butler’s death investigation.
The report shows that detectives found Nooner quickly after checking surveillance footage from the area shortly after being alerted to the shooting.
Surveillance footage captured a black sedan, with a spare tire on the front left wheel, running over Butler after hitting her multiple times, as stated in the detective’s report. Nooner was identified in the footage exiting the vehicle and firing shots at Butler.
The car’s license plate showed it to be registered to Nooner and a second man, according to the report.
After spotting it on the video, detectives broadcast a description of the vehicle to all officers, the report states.
Patrolling Little Rock officers spotted the sedan at a local gas station. As officers approached the vehicle, according to the report, Nooner attempted to flee on foot but was caught.
Officers instructed Nooner to lie on the ground, which he complied with, wearing attire matching that seen in the surveillance video, detectives reported.
The report concludes that Nooner waived his Miranda rights and confessed to detectives that he ran over and shot Butler. He threw the gun away as he fled the scene, he told detectives.
