FAYETTEVILLE — A man was arrested in south Fayetteville on Wednesday in connection with two counts of attempted murder after police say he attacked two people, striking them in the head with a club outside a homeless day center Sunday.
Jayden E. Leming, 19, homeless, of Fayetteville was arrested Wednesday in connection with two counts of attempted first-degree murder. Leming remained at the Washington County Detention Center on Thursday in lieu of $750,000 bond. Leming has a June 23 arraignment in Washington County Circuit Court.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Fayetteville police responded to 1832 S. School Ave. on Sunday, May 25 for a reported assault and battery. The suspect had used a blunt object with a weighted end to strike a man and a woman on the top of their skulls. One of the victims, Donald Tatum, had a fractured skull and brain bleeding. The other, Phyllis Garrett, had brain bleeding. Both victims were hospitalized.
The suspect was observed in video footage attempting to conceal his identity. He approached Tatum and Garrett, bypassing other people at the scene and began attacking them, according to the affidavit. The suspect then fled the scene on foot toward what authorities said was a well-known homeless encampment. The entire incident was captured on video surveillance at the 7Hills Day Center.
Police were able to identify Leming as the attacker from the video and witness statements, the affidavit states.
Investigators located and arrested Leming on Wednesday. He was transported to the Fayetteville Police Department for an interview and agreed to speak with police.
During the interview, Leming was shown photographs from the video of the suspect from when the assault took place, and he confirmed that it was him, according to the affidavit.
Leming told police he was given a weapon and instructed to attack a male and female at a pavilion near a wheelchair, the affidavit states. Leming told police Tatum and Garrett matched the description of the subjects he was instructed to attack at the pavilion, according to the affidavit.
Tatum and Garrett both remained hospitalized and were receiving medical care Wednesday for life-threatening injuries, the affidavit states.
Court records show that in the last 16 months Leming assaulted one person and threatened to kill another.
In March 2024, Leming struck a man in the head with a pistol, then pointed the pistol at the man, according to court records. On July 11, 2024, Leming brandished a knife and threatened to kill a person.
Leming pleaded guilty in both cases April 28 and was sentenced to a total of six years supervised probation, fined $1,000 and ordered to complete an anger management program.
