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BENTONVILLE -- An Oklahoma man was booked Thursday into the Benton County Jail after his arrest on suspicion of killing a Siloam Springs man.

Lucas Payne Espinosa, 32, was arrested on suspicion of capital murder, aggravated residential burglary and carrying a weapon. Prosecutors have not filed any formal charges against him.

Capital murder is punishable with a death sentence or life imprisonment without the benefit of parole. The burglary charge is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years or life imprisonment.

Carrying a weapon is a misdemeanor and carries a punishment of up to a year in jail.

He is expected to appear Friday in Benton County Circuit Court for a bond hearing.

Espinosa was arrested Sunday in St. Louis. He waived extradition, and Benton County sheriff's deputies transported him back to Arkansas on Thursday.

Siloam Springs police officers responded around 6:10 p.m. Saturday to the area of South Oak Hill Street for a report of a shooting, according to an earlier news release from the department. Officers reported they learned the suspect had fled prior to their arrival.

The suspect was identified as Espinosa, according to police.

Authorities reported he might have been traveling in a silver Kia Optima with an Oklahoma license plate.

Police updated the release later Saturday to say the person who had been shot had died and the death was being treated as a homicide investigation.

Siloam Springs police issued another news release Sunday saying Espinosa had been arrested and identifying the person shot as 45-year-old Brandon Granger.

According to the Sunday morning release, the St. Louis Police Department found and arrested Espinosa. Investigators also found Espinosa's vehicle and seized it as evidence, police reported.

Siloam Springs police Lt. DeAndra Bartley said via email Monday that a "Be on the Lookout" alert was issued Sunday for Espinosa, which is how other law enforcement agencies knew to be looking for him.

"The men and women of the Siloam Springs Police Department send our condolences and prayers to the family of Mr. Granger," the Sunday news release states. "We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Benton County Sheriff's Office, the St. Louis Metro Police Department, the public, and witnesses for their invaluable assistance during this investigation."

A GoFundMe page for Granger's family was shared online Monday with a goal of $10,000 to help the family with funeral expenses and other general support. It had raised $1,345 as of Thursday afternoon.

Oklahoma court records show Espinosa pleaded guilty in June 2025 to threatening to perform an act of violence and obstructing an officer in Jackson County, Okla.

He was sentenced to 180 days of incarceration and one year of probation, with the sentences running consecutively.

While the two charges to which Espinosa pleaded guilty were misdemeanors, he was originally charged with a felony charge of planning, conspiring or endeavoring to perform an act of violence, court records show.

However, that charge was amended to threatening to perform an act of violence.

Tracy M. Neal can be reached by email at tneal@nwaonline.com.

Tracy Neal is an award-winning reporter who covers criminal justice (courts and crime) for the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He’s been a reporter in Northwest Arkansas for more than two decades. He’s from Bastrop, La.

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