In 2016, 42 people were murdered in Little Rock, which is a 35 percent increase over the previous year. While the total is not the highest in the city's history, Little Rock has continuously had a higher per capita homicide rate, making it more dangerous than cities with similar populations.
This increase in homicides has also come at a time when the Little Rock police force has seen a shortage of officers. In January 2017, the force had 65 open positions, but as of July there are now 76 open positions within the police department.
This is THV11's effort to keep the city updated and informed. This article will remain here and present on our website throughout 2017. As the victims are identified and the suspects are charged, we will add to this article.
In 2017, there was 52 homicides.
December 5 Mariah Cunningham, 24 // Alayah, 5 // Elijah, 3
The three bodies were found by a relative who was concerned after the children didn't show up for school. Officers spent the next few hours interviewing neighbors to piece together what may have happened. A $50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of the murderer.
Read the full story here.
November 27 Stefany Teague, 23
When police arrived on scene, they found one person dead outside the home and another person dead inside the house. Little Rock police later identified the victim as 23-year-old Stefany Teague and the suspect as 27-year-old Christian Ramos. They consider the case a murder-suicide.
October 24 Loren Poole, 24
Around 2:00 a.m. officers found 24-year-old Loren Poole suffering from a gunshot wound. He later died at a hospital. Later the day, 38-year-old Tiffany McGhee turned herself in and was charged for the crime.
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October 12 Paul Gonzales, 30
According to police, 30-year-old Paul Gonzales was shot and killed at the Labette Manor apartment complex.
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August 20 Unnamed children, 4 & 5-year-old
Double homicide, suicide investigation on the 10000 block of Birchwood Drive. A woman came home to find her four and five-year-old children dead with their father, 39-year-old Robert Mangan. All the bodies have been sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy to determine their cause of death.
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August 15 Michael Davis, 19
The shooting, which happened near the corner of Asher and Taylor Street, happened when someone inside a white 4-door Durango shot at another car. Two women and a man, 19-year-old Michael Davis, were injured in that shooting.
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August 14 Antwon Bryant, 27
Bryant's body was found around 9:30 a.m. near Frontage Road after police got a call about shots being fired in the early morning hours near the 500 block of East Roosevelt. Police say his body has multiple gunshot wounds to his body.
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August 13 Vincent James, 48
Police said 48-year-old Vincent James told them two people tried to rob him while he was going into his house. During the robbery, one of the people shot him in both legs.
James went to a neighbor's house to call 911. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.
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August 12 Allen Sims, 54
According to police, kids came across the body of 54-year-old Allen Sims on West 24th Street. Adults then called the police.
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August 6 Danny Lewis, 50
Around 4:45 Sunday morning, LRPD responded to a call about a shooting on Howard Street. When they arrived, they found a man with gunshot injuries. He told police that there were other victims in the house. He was then taken to a nearby hospital. His injuries are life threatening.
Police then found the body of 50-year-old Danny Lewis. He had been shot multiple times.
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August 2 Tina Moody, 50
Police said the body of 50-year-old Tina Moody was found near the 6000 block of South Shackleford Road. Her death marks the 38th homicide for the city of Little Rock for 2017.
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JULY 29 Evilio Castro-Alverez, 55
Officers were called out to a shooting at Spanish Valley Apartments. When they arrived, they found the body of 55-year-old Evilio Castro-Alverez on the ground outside of building 29.
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JULY 28 Carlo Marigliano, 31
Officers were called to 1600 North Shackleford to the Berkley Apartments after a 31-year-old Italian man, Carlo Marigliano, was found shot to death in a car. According to LRPD spokesperson Lt. Steven McClanahan, Marigliano was shot and then crashed the vehicle into the side of one of the apartment buildings.
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JULY 27 Steven McPherson, 43
When police arrived, witnesses said the shots came from upstairs. That's where officers found 43-year-old Steven McPherson, of North Little Rock, shot multiple times.
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JULY 24 Loren Robinson, 30 // Cyncere Alexander, 14
Just 20 minutes apart, Loren Robinson and Cyncere Alexander were killed in two separate shootings.
Witnesses told police that Robinson was inside a car outside of a home when the shooter walked up and shot into the vehicle.
Then twenty minutes later on Green Mountain Drive, Cyncere Alexander was found on the floor inside an apartment suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He later died at the hospital.
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JULY 17 Samuel "Chris" Gilmore, 19
According to police, Gilmore had recently moved to Little Rock before he was murdered near the 4800 block of West 14th Street.
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JULY 11 Billy Thornton, 64
Police responded to the Spring Valley Apartments to investigate their third homicide in the area since March. Once they arrived, they found 64-year-old Billy Thornton dead inside an apartment.
Neighbors said he would sell candy and cigarettes from his apartment.
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JULY 8 Sharman Bowie, 36
Police found 36-year-old Sharman Bowie dead from a gunshot injury outside the Westwood Apartments off Stagecoach Road. Police say the shooting does not appear to be connected to any of the recent gang violence in other parts of the city.
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JULY 3 Naomi Estrada, 36
36-year-old Naomi Estrada was found dead inside her apartment on Westmont Circle by her sister. Police believe Estrada knew her but didn't release what type of relationship they may have had. Estrada's body has been sent to the state crime lab to determine a cause of death.
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JULY 3 Anna Williamson, 28
Police found 28-year-old Anna Williamson dead inside her apartment around 3:23 a.m. on Elm Street. Police said Williamson was not shot and her body was being sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
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MAY 28 Kendrick Scales, 19
19-year-old Kendrick Scales arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound around 3:30 a.m. He later died of his injuries.
Police have yet to name any suspects in the investigation.
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MAY 27-28 Tanisha Roby, 21
21-year-old Tanisha Roby's body was found outside near a trailer in a trailer park on Scott Hamilton Road around 9:40 a.m. Saturday.
She was reported missing by her sister around 2 a.m. on Saturday morning after she didn't return home from work. Police have not named a suspect.
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MAY 15 Amanda Murillo, 32 // Unnamed Juvenile, 15
32-year-old Amanda Murillo and her unidentified 15-year-old were found by police in a blue Ford Explorer. According to the police report, the vehicle, which was parked between two abandoned trailer homes, was covered in blood, and both victims suffered gunshot wounds.
Police also located another body in the same trailer park, which appeared to be a result of an apparent suicide. The LRPD is investigating possible connections between the two.
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MAY 8 Israel Choxon, 24
Choxon was bringing home diapers from the store when he was attacked outside of his home on Stanton Road by an unknown man. Family members say they saw the man attack Choxon with his face covered with a white t-shirt.
Lieutenant Steve McClanahan with the Little Rock Police Department said they believe it was a random, senseless homicide with the goal of stealing Choxon’s car. He said there was a struggle between the two men, with the suspect pulling Choxon out of the car and shooting him.
Police say the suspect is a male in his mid-20's driving a 4-door brown Nissan Maxima.
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MAY 8 Tamela Jones, 52
Police responded to the 2500 block of South Arch Street around 8 a.m. where they found 52-year-old Tamela Jones suffering from a gunshot wound. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers say the murder may have happened overnight. One witness said they heard arguing and gunfire around midnight.
Little Rock police have not named a suspect in the shooting at this time.
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MAY 5 Unnamed, 50
Police arrested both Gerald L. Ashby, 26, and Kowana Hudson, 37, both of Little Rock, in connection with a fatal stabbing that occurred on Thursday night. Both face charges of first-degree murder.
Police were called to West 29th Street after reports of an assault. Upon arrival, officers found a 50-year-old man who had been stabbed several times. He was taken to a hospital where he later died.
Witnesses stated that there had been an argument between Ashby and the victim. It was said that he began stabbing the victim, and Hudson joined in.
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APRIL 27 Shirley Jackson, 60
Little Rock police are investigating a fatal drive-by shooting on Park Lane. A daycare worker, 60-year-old Shirley Jackson, was struck by a stray bullet and later died of her injuries.
Jackson worked and lived inside the in-home facility. At the time of the shooting, police say nine children and three adults were at the daycare.
Police have not identified a suspect, but a silver vehicle was seen speeding away from the scene.
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APRIL 26 Unnamed Juvenile, 17
Little Rock police are investigating a double shooting after a juvenile was found dead in a stairwell of an apartment complex at the corner of University Avenue and Markham Street. Police say the shooting—in which over 20 shots were fired--occurred between the sixth and seventh floors of the Midtown Park Apartments across from Park Plaza Mall.
According to police, the shooting happened after the two juveniles tried to rob a man who lives in the apartment building.
LRPD arrested and charged 17-year-old Ronterio Claybook with manslaughter, aggravated robbery, and first-degree battery. Claybrook is being charged as an adult.
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APRIL 3 Kendrick Gardner, 38
Police responded to Bruno Road after reports of a shooting. Once inside the home, officers located 38-year-old Kendrick Gardner lying on the floor with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police arrested Gardner's brother, 34-year-old Alonzo Pride, who was walking down Baseline Road near the scene of the shooting. Pride was charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm, and possession of a controlled substance.
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MARCH 28 Eric Gavin, 45
According to police, 45-year old Eric Gavin was murdered just before midnight. Gavin was found on a couch inside a home on between Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and South Pulaski Street.
Officials have not named a suspect in the homicide.
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MARCH 26 Charles Livingston, 21
Around 7:00 p.m., officers responded to a shooting at 21st and Pulaski Streets. Upon arrival, they found 21-year-old Charles Livingston lying in the street beside a vehicle. He was unconscious and had a gunshot wound to the leg.
Livingston was taken to a hospital and later died from his injury. No suspect information has been released and the investigation is ongoing.
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MARCH 24 Lewis Wallace, 20 // Stevie Howard, 19
The Little Rock police responded to a shooting at the Spring Valley Apartments and found 19-year-old Lewis Wallace dead in the courtyard area.
A second victim, 19-year-old Stevie Howard, later died at a hospital Saturday from gun-related injuries.
Detectives say two men were seen fleeing the area after the shooting and are investigating.
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MARCH 19 Brent Cartwright, 19
Around 11 p.m., officers responded to the shopping center on Colonel Glenn Road after receiving several calls about a large crowd of people and vehicles loitering in the parking lot.
Upon arrival, officers were advised of a shooting that had just occurred. Officers were also advised that a shooting victim, later identified as 19-year-old Brent Cartwright of Little Rock, had been dropped off at a local hospital. Cartwright died from his injuries a short time later.
At this time, police say there is no suspect information and the investigation is ongoing.
Read the full story here.
MARCH 7 Earl Buckner, 55
When officers arrived at East 8th Street, they found 55-year-old Earl Buckner suffering from a stab wound to the upper body. Buckner was transported to the nearest hospital where he later died.
Police say that Buckner's wife, 42-year-old Christie Buckner, also known as Christie Morgan, was standing over his body.
Buckner's wife has been charged with first-degree murder.
Read the full story here.
MARCH 6 Deontre Rhodes, 19
According to police reports, 19-year-old Deontre Rhodes was face down on the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound when they arrived at John Barrow Road.
A witness nearby recorded the aftermath of the incident. Police have not clarified where he was shot.
The investigation is ongoing and police have yet to name a suspect in the murder case.
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FEBRUARY 24 Ron Young, 40
Police announced that they were investigating a homicide on South Broadway. 40-year-old Ron Yong was beaten with a weapon and later succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital.
A witness said she saw a woman come out of the house crying and carrying a baseball bat. Police questioned the woman, but have not charged her at this time. Officers believe the two were in a relationship and both were living in and renovating the home.
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FEBRUARY 12 Troy Langston, 24
Little Rock police responded to a report of shots fired at Wolfe Street. When they arrived at the scene, they located a Ford Taurus parked in the yard with multiple bullet holes with 24-year-old Troy Langston dead inside.
One witness was interviewed by police, but since the incident occurred late at night, there was limited suspect information. The suspect was described as a man who was wearing a black stocking hat, a black coat, and blue jeans. He reportedly ran from the scene.
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FEBRUARY 8 Wilford Banks, 29
The Little Rock police responded to a shooting near the 4500 block of West 25th Street after reports of a "terroristic act."
Police said that 29-year-old Wilford Banks was shot at the scene and later died in surgery at UAMS.
A witness said that a dark grey 2010 Toyota Camry parked alongside a burgundy Kia sedan. The witness told police that the driver shot into the Kia, then erratically drove away.
Police believe this could have been related, as Banks arrived at the hospital in a Kia.
No suspects have been named yet in the shooting, and the investigation is ongoing.
Read the full story here.
FEBRUARY 7 Alexander Reed, 18
Around 11:20 p.m., officers were dispatched to a shooting at Par Drive. Upon arrival, they found 18-year-old Alexander Reed deceased inside the apartment from an apparent gunshot wound.
Officers then located three additional apartment tenants also suffering gunshot wounds.
The victims advised that they were at their apartment when Reed came over with an unknown man. They advised that after several minutes the man opened the apartment door, letting two other unknown men into the apartment. The victims stated that one of these men revealed a handgun and told them that “this is a robbery” and then started shooting.
During the course of the investigation, 21-year-old Alvin Chaffin and 18-year-old Terrance Reynolds, both of Pine Bluff, were identified as two of the three men that entered the apartment. Chaffin was admitted to the hospital and placed in custody. Reynolds was also arrested and charged with capital murder, aggravated robbery, and first-degree battery.
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JANUARY 24 Cornell Drones, 35
Police say that two suspects attempted to rob two Domino’s Pizza employees who were depositing money at the Bank of the Ozarks on Otter Creek Parkway sometime before 1:30 a.m.
During the robbery attempt, a gun used by one of the suspects fell to the ground, and one of the victims retrieved it and opened fire at one of the suspects. The suspect, later identified as 35-year-old Cornell Drones, then ran to a nearby Edward’s Food Giant, where he got into a car and drove a truck stop nearby. There, he got out of the vehicle and collapsed.
He was pronounced dead around 2 a.m.
Read the full story here.
JANUARY 19 Unnamed Juvenile, 4 months old
On March 16, the medical examiner’s office informed Little Rock police an infant’s January death had been ruled a homicide.
The child was taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital on the night of January 19 and later pronounced dead. The death resulted from Benadryl toxicity.
Officers found 20-year-old Marshon Jackson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds after they heard gunfire near the corner of 33rd Street and MLK Drive. Jackson was transported to UAMS where he later died.
Police arrested Jericho Mosley, 18, and Michael Brown, 41, in connection with the murder.