BREAKING: Benton teen Cooper Camferdam has been arrested and charged with felony battery after a Saturday night fight in a Hot Springs gas station parking lot. One man was left with severe injuries and remains in the hospital. The investigation is active, and police are still building the timeline from surveillance and witness accounts.
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What Happened Saturday Night
The confrontation started in a crowded lot off a main road in Hot Springs. It was late, and people were coming and going. The scene shifted fast from words to punches. First responders arrived within minutes. The victim was rushed to a local hospital with serious injuries. His mother shared that he is fighting to recover. She also thanked the community for support and prayers.
Police confirmed the arrest of Cooper Camferdam, a teen from Benton. He is accused of taking part in the fight that led to the injuries. Officers say more interviews and video review are underway. They are also asking anyone with footage to step forward.
The charge is an accusation, not a conviction. Camferdam is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The Charge, In Plain Terms
Felony battery in Arkansas covers serious harm or conduct that risks serious harm. The degree of the charge can vary. It depends on the injury, intent, and any weapon use. Conviction can bring prison time, fines, and a criminal record. If prosecutors later change the degree of the charge, the possible penalties change with it.
Because Camferdam is a teen, the court setting matters. Arkansas law allows serious felony cases to move from juvenile to adult court in some situations. That decision depends on the teen’s age, the facts, and a judge’s ruling after a transfer hearing. If the case stays in juvenile court, records can be limited and hearings can be more restricted. If it is in adult court, proceedings are generally public.
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What Happens Next, Step by Step
- First appearance, where the court reads the charge and addresses bond.
- If requested, a probable cause hearing to test the basis for the arrest.
- Discovery, where both sides exchange evidence, including video and witness statements.
- Pretrial motions, such as any request to move the case or limit certain evidence.
- Plea talks or trial. A judge or jury decides the facts if there is a trial.
If the case begins in juvenile court, a separate hearing can be held to decide whether to transfer it. That process has its own timeline and standards.
Do not share unverified video or names of minors online. It can harm the case and violate privacy rules.
Rights You Should Know
Victims and families have rights to be informed and to be heard at key stages. They can give impact statements at sentencing if there is a conviction. They may also ask for no contact orders and restitution.
Residents have rights too. If you witnessed the fight, you can speak to police with or without a lawyer present. You also have the right to decline casual interviews. If officers want a formal statement, ask to schedule it. Keep any video in its original form.
- If you recorded the incident, you may submit it to detectives.
- Keep a copy, and avoid editing or adding filters.
- Write down what you saw as soon as possible.
- If contacted by lawyers, you can ask for credentials and a business card.
Have phone video from the parking lot 📹? Preserve the original file. Email or deliver it directly to investigators.
Community Questions, Policy Stakes
This case raises hard questions for Hot Springs and Benton. How fast can police gather reliable footage from private cameras. How are juvenile cases handled when serious harm occurs. Are gas station lots adequately lit and monitored. City leaders will face those questions at upcoming meetings.
On the justice side, the biggest policy call is the forum. If prosecutors seek to move a teen to adult court, judges weigh public safety, maturity, and rehabilitation prospects. The decision shapes not just punishment, but access to services and long term outcomes. Public access also shifts, since adult courts are open by default.
For families, the hospital remains the focus. The victim’s mother said she is hopeful. She asked the community for patience as doctors work. Support networks are forming around her, from church groups to neighborhood friends.
The Bottom Line
A man is in the hospital. A Benton teen, Cooper Camferdam, faces a felony battery charge. The justice system is now in motion, and the facts will be tested in court. Police are still gathering video and witness accounts. If you saw something, share it with investigators. If you are grieving, know that victims have rights and support in this process. Our newsroom will continue to track each hearing and decision, from bond to any transfer request, until this case reaches a public resolution. ⚖️
