NEW Murder suspect gets $2 million bond

Published 12:00 am Friday, December 7, 2012

A man authorities suspect pulled the trigger in the murder of a Kannapolis teenager was given a $2 million bond in Rowan County court today.

Darius Jamal Smotherson’s attorney, James Davis, had asked for a bond of $200,000, but the judge side with prosecutors to order the bond 10 times that amount.

Smotherson, 19, is one of three people charged in the May 21 shooting death of Daniel Lee Cooper in north Kannapolis. Cooper, killed two days before his 18th birthday, was senior at A.L. Brown High School.

Damarick Lamar Harper, 18, of Kirk Street in China Grove, was arrested a week later. Reginald Javae Clark of Glendale Avenue was arrested June 14. Both were charged with murder and armed robbery.

Authorities took Smotherson into custody June 26 as he stepped off a northbound bus in Maryland. He is also charged with murder and robbery.

Harper is being held in the Rowan County jail under $750,000 bond. Clark is currently being held without bond.