Three arrested in weekend homicide
Shooting leaves West Memphis man dead, suspects in custody
news@theeveningtimes.com
West Memphis police were on the scene Saturday morning after shots were fired near a West Memphis Fire Station around 10 a.m. The victim, whose name was withheld pending next-of-kin notification, was transported to and pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden.
Detectives worked the scene at the corner of Jackson and South 19th Street and interviewed witnesses until 12:30 p.m.
Mayor Marco McClendon notified city council in a group text message entitled “Transparency to the Council” revealing more details. The mayor said the victim recounted the event to police and named his assailants before expiring.
The house at 532 S. 19th was an object of police surveillance according to McClendon, who expressed regret that police action did not prevent the killing. This was the second shooting scene this year that the mayor had reported as home under police scrutiny. The first was a shooting of a 15-year-old-boy on Feb.
6, in the Steeple Chase Apartments. The Mayor said police had warned the boy’s family to keep him from the apartment.
McClendon recapped the events at the shooting scene Saturday.
“This was a drug deal that went south,” said Mc-Clendon. “Police had been watching the house for some time, but this unfor- tunate incident happened.”
The mayor emphasized to city council that this shooting was an isolated incident and separate from back-and-forth gang shootings that stirred the city last month.
“Police do not believe this had any connections to the west and east side gang activity,” said McClendon.
“That situation has been quiet.”
Some city council members replied with prayer and call to action.
“I am sorry to hear the news,” said Councilwoman Lorraine Robinson. “Mayor McClendon my prayers, love and thoughts are with you. “I know it must be hard.”
“Prayers for our city, the neighborhood and all families involved,” said Councilman Wayne Croom.
“Fellow council members we have and will crack down on drugs in our city,” said Councilman James Holt. “It is killing too many of our young people.”
“Prayers for these families and West Memphis,” said Councilman Charles Wheeless. “God have mercy on us all.”
By 8 p.m., the West Memphis Police Department Violent Crime Suppression Unit began making arrests along with the Special Response Team. Three suspects were rounded up at neighboring apartments on 400 block of South Avalon South. Twins Ladarrell Murray and Cordarrell Murray, 31, stand charged, along with Kendall Mays, 26, for the crime. Each was charged with murder, aggravated robbery, three counts of terroristic act and endangering the welfare of a minor.
