Investigation by ASP leads to arrest of 26-year-old Charleston man for 1st Degree Murder

A 43-year-old man has died as a result of a gunshot injury he sustained after an altercation took place inside a home in the 100 block of Church Street in Charleston.on Thursday.

At approximately 1:51 a.m. on Thursday, November 30, 2023, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) requested ASP’s Criminal Investigation Division to investigate the incident.

FCSO responded to a call to the home, locating victim Daniel Davis within the residence. Davis was pronounced deceased on-scene.

The deceased will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab, where manner and cause of death will be determined.

Donny Wayne Deer, 26, of Charleston has been charged with Homicide/First-Degree Murder. Deer was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center at 8:46 am Thursday after the investigation by the Arkansas State Police, who say the incident occurred at around 2 am Thursday morning.

Online information from various sources has Deer's hometown listed as Cove or Newhope but booking information from the FCSO has him listed as a Charleston resident. A cursory check of Arkansas Court Connect and BeenVerified does not reveal any previous criminal activities or convictions for Deer.

Numerous calls to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office by Today in Fort Smith on Friday for information on the case were not returned as of 11 p.m. Friday night.0