In the early morning hours of November 24, 2020, police responded to a call about a shooting at a residence on Cooper Estates Drive in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Upon arrival, they found 19-year-old Chaseton Lewter in a back bedroom with a gunshot wound to his forehead. He was initially transported to Baxter Regional Medical Center and later airlifted to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock.
Despite medical efforts, the young man, a resident of Flippin, Arkansas, succumbed to his injuries and passed away on November 25, 2020.
The resident of the home, 21-year-old Savannah Nicole Wren, had fled the scene before police arrived. Two other individuals at the residence informed investigators that Wren had shot Lewter. A manhunt ensued, and Wren was located and apprehended in neighboring Marion County several hours after the shooting. Initially, she was charged with criminal attempt to commit second-degree murder. However, following Lewter's death, the charge was upgraded to second-degree murder, and her bond was increased to $500,000.
The investigation into the shooting, assisted by the Arkansas State Police, did not publicly release a motive for the incident or specifics about the weapon used, other than it was a. 22-caliber revolver. In January 2021, Wren pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder charge. As the case proceeded, she faced additional legal trouble, including a separate charge of first-degree sexual assault in Marion County.
Ultimately, in May 2022, Savannah Wren avoided a jury trial by pleading guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter in connection with Chaseton Lewter's death. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in the fatal shooting.
