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Two charged in Arkansas killings

From left, Samuel Conway, Jeremy Pickney and Marvin Stringer.
From left, Samuel Conway, Jeremy Pickney and Marvin Stringer.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Two men charged with capital murder, burglary, arson
  • Police say third suspect was killed in shootout with officers
  • Four bodies were found in burning home November 12, fifth in another home
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(CNN) -- Authorities have charged two people with murder in the slaying of five people in Arkansas last week, police said Friday.

A third suspect was killed in a shootout with officers, police said.

Jeremy Pickney and Samuel Conway, both 23, are charged with capital murder, aggravated residential burglary and arson related to the killings in Pearcy last week, said Lt. James Martin of the Garland County Sheriff's Department.

Martin said both are being held without bail.

The third suspect, Marvin Stringer, 22, died Thursday night after he began firing on officers who had arrived to take him into custody at an inn, Martin said. Authorities returned fire, killing him, Martin said.

Deputy Jason Lawrence was shot and remains in serious but stable condition, Martin said. A second deputy, Felix Hunter, had an undisclosed medical condition and was treated and released at a hospital, he said.

Four bodies were found November 12 in a burning home in Pearcy, roughly 55 miles southwest of Little Rock. A fifth was found in another residence on the same property, authorities said, but the second residence had not been set on fire.

All five victims had been shot.

Read more about the case

Authorities are working to identify the four bodies in the home that had been set ablaze. They have identified the fifth as 80-year-old Edward Earl Gentry Sr.

On November 12, authorities found a car registered to the owners of the home that had been set on fire, Martin said. It was 15 to 20 miles from the home, and also had been set on fire, he said.

Some property was taken during the crime, Martin said Friday. He did not disclose details.