TEXARKANA -- Charges are still pending for the woman accused of shooting a 17-year-old girl with an AR-15 rifle during a birthday party in Little River County.
Ashdown attorney Mickey Buchanan, who is representing Tracie Dierks, 40, of Little River County, will ask for a mental evaluation being before charges are filed in the shooting death of Caitlin Caskey, an 11th-grade student at Foreman High School.
The shooting occurred in a house in the Wallace community, halfway between Foreman and Ashdown on Arkansas 32. The shooting was reported about 9:30 p.m. Jan. 23.
"Dierks allegedly discharged the rifle in a roomful of kids," Prosecuting Attorney Bryan Chesshir said.
Buchanan said no charges have been filed pending additional investigation. He will request a mental evaluation for Dierks to determine if she is mentally competent to assist in her defense.
The next court appearance is Feb. 23.
"All proceedings will stop until the evaluation is complete," Buchanan said. "There is no reason to bring her back to the courtroom."
Arkansas State Police continue the investigation and have interviewed about 25 people who were in the house at the time of the shooting.
Dierks was serving alcohol at a birthday party for her 16-year-old daughter, according to investigators.
State Desk on 02/07/2016