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Video Credited In Fatal Shooting Arrest

Last updated on Thursday, August 30, 2012

(SPEEDWAY) - Two months after a man opened fire at a busy gas station, killing one, police are crediting chilling surveillance video with leading to an arrest.

Eric Butler, 22, was charged this week with murder in the shooting of Tommy Thompson, 30.

RTV6 reports, the shooting at the Speedway gas station at 10th Street and Lynnhurst Drive in June was captured on surveillance video.

A man is seen checking out Thompson's vehicle before extending his arm and firing a gun, striking Thompson.

The gas station was filled with witnesses, but all fled shortly after the shooting, leaving police frustrated for two months.

"Sometimes people get intimidated by people like Mr. Butler and the company that Mr. Butler keeps, and their thought is, if they do come forward with that information that would lead us to an arrest, their life would be in jeopardy," said Speedway police Lt. Trent Theobald.

A break in the case came when surveillance video from the nearby Tremors nightclub from the night of the shooting showed Thompson involved in an altercation with a man wearing the same clothes and matching the description of the shooter.

A confidential informant later identified the man as Butler, police said.

Butler was arrested during a traffic stop Tuesday night on a preliminary charge of murder.

Police said he refused to answer investigators' questions about the shooting. He is set to appear in court Thursday morning.

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