Family Says Fight Over A Woman Led To Deadly Shooting In Stilwell

An Adair County man is in jail after investigators say he shot and killed a man in the front yard of his home. Family members caught in the middle say it all started with fighting over a woman.

Rodney Aaron Wilson, 38, is behind bars, arrested in connection with the killing of Rickey Lee Harlin, 53.

"We're as good as we're going to be for what happened," said Stacie Catron.

Catron is Rodney Aaron Wilson's ex-girlfriend and the mother of his 15-year-old son, Rodney William Wilson. She's also the daughter of the shooting victim, Harlin.

She said Harlin and Wilson were fighting over a woman, which led to the shooting at Harlin's home Friday night.

CBS affiliate KFSM in Fort Smith, Arkansas reports Wilson called 911 about 6:30 p.m. to report he had shot Harlin in self-defense, according to Adair County Sheriff David Hardin.

Police responded to Harlin's house and found him dead in the yard.

Wilson was taken into custody and later booked into jail on a first degree murder complaint.

12/29/2013 Related Story: OSBI Investigating Murder Of Stilwell Man

Catron and Wilson's son came to Monday's bond hearing at the Adair County Courthouse. The teen said he never made eye contact with his father during the proceedings.

"It didn't hit me until earlier when I seen that old man walk through that door, he didn't even look at me," he said.

He said his dad has a violent past and would get angry, and sometimes fight with family members.

"He's a menace to society, that's what they should call him," the younger Wilson said. "I fear for my life. He might scare me a little bit if we were hunting together, I'd be walking behind him for sure."

Catron is wondering who will be a father figure in her 15-year-old son's life, now that his grandfather is gone.

"He pretty much raised this boy, because Aaron wasn't in his life, at all," said Catron of Harlin. "And he called him dad."

OSBI agents are investigating the death.

Records show Wilson received a two-year deferred sentence for possession of a controlled substance back in 2004.

Wilson is being held without bond in the Adair County jail.