Arkansas Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Killing Man at Walmart

Arkansas Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Killing Man at Walmart
A stock photo of a Walmart sign. (Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo)
The Associated Press
8/13/2019
Updated:
8/13/2019

TRUMANN, Ark.—An Arkansas man has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for fatally shooting a man who tried to intervene as he held his ex-wife at gunpoint outside a Walmart.

Gabriel Urrabazo, 23, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the April 2018 murder of Richard Highfill, plus 20 years behind bars for the kidnapping of 21-year-old Faith Morgan, the Craighead County Prosecutor’s Office said Monday, Aug. 13.

He will serve the sentences concurrently.

Officials said Urrabazo went to the Walmart in Trumann, about 120 miles northeast of Little Rock, and held Morgan at gunpoint. As police negotiated with Urrabazo, Highfill tried to disarm him, but Urrabazo shot and killed him. Highfill was Morgan’s uncle.

Urrabazo released Morgan and surrendered after an hourlong standoff with police.

A public defender for Urrabazo could not be reached for comment.