In the early moments of a cold January morning in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the sound of two gunshots shattered the midnight quiet. A patrolling police officer near North Patterson and Baxter streets heard the disturbance and spotted a silver Jeep Cherokee speeding away from the area. The officer quickly moved to pull the vehicle over on Baxter Street.
As the Jeep came to a stop, the driver bailed out and fled into the darkness, leaving three passengers behind.
A short time later, a call came in directing authorities to a residence at 1215 Hobson Street, just a couple of blocks from where the Jeep had been stopped. There, they found 21-year-old Nicholas Ray Rodriguez, a White / Caucasian male, suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts of emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Hot Springs Police Department, with the aid of a K-9 unit, immediately began a search for the driver who had abandoned the Jeep. Their search led them to the area behind Albert Pike Tire at 100 Albert Pike. Hiding underneath a vehicle, they found 27-year-old Matthew Lashawn Babb of Mountain Pine. Not far from where Babb was discovered, investigators also recovered two handguns from a dumpster.
Following a thorough investigation and interviews, Matthew Lashawn Babb was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Nicholas Ray Rodriguez. He was subsequently booked into the Garland County Detention Center. Investigators have indicated that they believe the shooting was drug-related.
