Hot Springs police arrested 18-year-old Cooper Riley Camferdam of Benton on charges of first-degree battery following a violent parking lot brawl at a Circle K gas station that left 20-year-old Noah Epperson seriously injured.
The incident unfolded just before midnight on Jan. 17 at the store on Malvern Avenue, where officers responded to reports of a large fight that had spilled over from a nearby party. Upon arrival, they found Epperson suffering from multiple injuries, including a skull fracture and bleeding on both sides of his brain, and transported him to a local hospital where he remains in intensive care.
Investigators identified Camferdam as the primary suspect after public tips and circulating videos surfaced online, showing him striking Epperson with a belt and participating in the assault. A warrant was issued Monday, leading to his arrest with assistance from Benton police; he was booked into the Garland County Detention Center on Jan. 19.
First-degree battery carries a Class Y felony classification in Arkansas, punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison. Videos depict multiple individuals involved, prompting police to warn that bystanders who filmed rather than aided could face charges for failure to render assistance, though none have been announced. Police arrested a second suspect, Marcus Ellison Denell Jr, 18, on January 21.
The investigation continues, with authorities anticipating additional arrests. A GoFundMe has been established by a friend to support Epperson’s recovery and aid his family financially.
