Playful fight, drinking led to fatal shooting on Arlington street, warrant says
A Mississippi man accused of fatally shooting another man last weekend during a fight on an Arlington street was in custody on Friday, Arlington police said.
Romus Motton, 39, of Greenville, Mississippi, faces a charge of murder in the shooting death of Wiley Harper.
Motton was arrested Thursday night in Dallas without incident.
He was in the Arlington Jail on Friday in lieu of $80,000 bond.
Harper, 40, died from a gunshot wound Sunday night during the fight, according to Arlington police.
The fight and shooting occurred after a day of drinking in an Arlington neighborhood in the 600 block of McQueary Street, according to an arrest warrant released by Arlington police on Friday.
Before the fight, Harper, Motton and another man were friendly and drinking beer, the warrant says. At some point, Harper and Motton were on the street drinking beer that belonged to the third man. That man became upset and pointed a handgun at Harper’s head, according to the warrant.
Harper told him, “if you are going to kill me, then kill me,” but the man put the handgun in his pocket and left the scene, the warrant states.
After having the handgun pointed at him, Harper became upset and was on the ground crying on the street, witnesses told police. Motton tried to comfort Harper, but the two began arguing. Motton raised his shirt and revealed that he was in possession of a handgun, according to the warrant.
Harper asked if Motton and the other man planned on killing him, and Motton said no, witnesses told police.
Harper and Motton returned to drinking, but minutes later got into a playful argument over the alcohol, the warrant states.
The two moved to the street, where they began fighting, lightheartedly at first, according to the warrant. Harper punched Motton, knocking the Mississippi man backwards. Several women began laughing when Motton was punched, witnesses said.
Motton became upset, but Harper said, “I’m your homeboy. I’m not going to hurt you,” the warrant states.
Motton was embarrassed, and grew angrier, the witnesses told police. Harper walked away as Motton pulled out his handgun and pointed it at Harper, according to the warrant.
Harper slapped it away, causing the weapon to fall to the ground. The men wrestled and fought for the weapon. Motton gained possession of the handgun and shot Harper, according to the warrant.
After being shot, Harper yelled at Motton, “You better hope you kill me,” the warrant stated. Motton walked over to the victim and held to the gun to Harper’s head, the warrant says, but Motton fled the scene when a friend told him to leave.
Harper, who was shot in the abdomen, was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead, police said.
Days after the shooting, Arlington detectives received a cell phone video of the fight and shooting.
This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 12:37 PM.
