***Press Release ***
On the 18th day of August 2023, Deputies responded to a shooting victim located at 541 Col. Rd. 38 in Columbia County at a family gathering. The victim was then transported by private vehicle to the Magnolia Regional Medical Center for treatment. The victim then succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at The MRMC by Coroner Randy Reed. Deputies were then given a description by numerous witnesses of the vehicle and a suspect that fled the scene after the shooting. Deputies then spotted the vehicle that was identified; the suspect and the vehicle was detained near the crime scene. The Arkansas State Police was then contacted and the crime scene was secured. After speaking to numerous witnesses the suspect was identified as Alando R. Caldwell (42) of Magnolia Arkansas. The deceased victim was identified as Craig L. Phillips Jr. (31) of Fayetteville North Carolina. Alando Caldwell is being charged with 1st degree murder and being held at The Columbia County Detention Facility awaiting First Appearance.