While the Selma Police Department continues their hunt for suspects tied to last week’s shootings on Hardie Avenue, District Judge Bob Armstrong continues his work on those suspects already in custody.

Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson said Thursday that James Catrell Bender, who turned himself in to authorities earlier this week, and is one of seven suspects believed part of the shootings, faced Armstrong Thursday and had his $2.7 million bond upheld and his preliminary hearing scheduled for April 19.

Bender is the third suspect arrested, leaving four remaining at large.

Earlier this week, Armstrong approved the $2.7 million bonds for Earnest Bernard Gunn and Theodore Thespian Stallworth, two other suspects from last week’s shooting.

All have been charged with attempted murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling and discharging a firearm into an unoccupied vehicle.

Investigators are still searching for Kenyada Dukes, Lamarious Prince, Willie Earl Calhoun and Darryl DeWayne Johnson.

Selma Chief of Police William T. Riley said Wednesday his department is continuing to search for the remaining suspects, but believe two of them — two he did not identify — might have already fled the state.

Last Wednesday evening, police officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of Hardie Avenue in response to calls of shots fired and several suspects with guns.

According Riley, prior to the officers’ arrival, a group of individuals were standing in a nearby yard being “loud and arguing.”

“This went on for a brief moment when several of the individuals retrieved handguns and semi-automatic rifles and started shooting in the neighborhood,” Riley told the Times-Journal in an earlier report. “During the shooting, a number of vehicles and homes were hit and there were a number of children in the area when the shooting started. Some of those homes and vehicles were occupied at the time of the shooting.

“It’s fortunate no one was reported injured during this senseless act,” Riley said.

Unfortunately for the department, the suspects fled the scene before the officers arrived. Riley said through interviews and further investigation, the department identified a number of suspects reportedly tied to the shootings.

Selma Police are asking the public to call 911 if they have any information on the whereabouts of the remaining suspects.