1997-05-23

Suspect arraigned on murder charge

Henry Larry Locklear, who was arrested Wednesday in connection with the death of Jerome "Jerry" Smith, 66, was arraigned Thursday in the 320th District Court on a charge of murder.

Locklear remained in the Potter County Detention Center late Thursday in lieu of a $1 million bond, a detention center spokeswoman said.

Police arrested Locklear, 18, at his home just hours after Smith's family and friends mourned the beating victim at his funeral Wednesday morn-ing.

Smith died Saturday at Northwest Texas Hospital from injuries he received during an assault the afternoon of April 24 in front of his northeast Amarillo home, according to police reports.

Smith had just driven his van into his driveway in the 1600 block of North Osage when an assailant walked up, dragged Smith out onto. the concrete and began beating him, police said.

A complaint filed Wednesday in the 47th District Clerk's office names two men who told police they know the suspect and saw him attack Jerry Smith that afternoon.

At his arraignment before District Judge Don Emerson, Locklear said he had been released from the custody of the Texas Youth Council about a year ago.