Steven Napier (left) and Jessica Moore (Photo courtesy of Izard County Sheriff’s Office)
Two Izard County residents are accused of going for their firearms and discharging them outside of a Horseshoe Bend home where four children were present. Thirty-eight-year-old Steven Napier of Calico Rock and 27-year-old Jessica Moore of Horseshoe Bend are each facing four felony counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, one felony count of aggravated assault on a family or household member and a misdemeanor count of third-degree domestic battering.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Izard County deputies responded Sept. 8 to the residence on North Little Rock Road for a call of a domestic dispute. Moore told one of the deputies she and Napier were arguing when he came home, and at one point, she accidentally knocked over his motorcycle. Napier is alleged to have retaliated by grabbing a baseball bat from his truck and using it to strike Moore’s van. They reportedly struggled over the bat until it was thrown into the back yard.
Moore claims Napier went back to his truck and stated he was getting his gun, and she retrieved one from her van. They reportedly struggled for the opposite gun. Moore says Napier’s gun discharged first, and hers fired second, but they did not point the guns at each other.
Moore says she attempted to retrieve Napier’s gun a second time, but by then, the magazine had been removed. She says she was successful, and she took the gun inside the residence and locked the door. Napier allegedly took the bat and broke in before authorities arrived.
The deputy then spoke with Napier, who told a similar story with some noticeable differences. He claims during the argument, Moore pushed his motorcycle over. He also stated during the struggle for the guns, Moore’s firearm discharged first. In addition, Napier says after Moore took the guns inside the residence, he contacted the sheriff’s office, but she attempted to take his phone from him.
Authorities later spoke with another female at the residence. She says when she heard Moore and Napier arguing outside, she took the four children in the back bedroom. She and the minors were not injured during the incident.
Moore and Napier were treated for minor injuries on the scene before being transported and booked into the Izard County Detention Center. Both were released on Monday without bond, but they are required to go before a judge.
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