Suspected arrested in shooting death

HELENA-WEST HELENA — About 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to Helena-West Helena Mayor Kevin Smith, Tavoris Avance, who was wanted in connection with the Oct. 18 shooting death of 20-year-old Jamarius Reese, surrendered to Police Chief James Smith.

“He was in Conway with his girlfriend,” Chief Smith said Tuesday night. “I sent U.S. marshals to his location to pick him up and bring him back.”

The chief said Avance called him earlier in the day and asked to surrender to him. As of Tuesday night, Chief Smith said Avance was talking to investigators about the killing of Reese.

“Based on the information he has provided we believe he is the shooter,” he said.

Officers dispatched to Park and Dinan streets just before 11 a.m. found Reese lying facedown with several apparent gunshot wounds in his back, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Smith said he believed Avance was picked up by a black Chevrolet Malibu after fleeing the scene and remained in the Conway and Little Rock area early Tuesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, authorities made two additional arrests in the death of 24-year-old Donameka Ballard.

Tyranza Young, 19, and Kylan Williams, 21, both of Helena-West Helena, were accused in the fatal shooting, which happened shortly before noon near 6th Street and Garland Avenue.

Young and Williams were transported to the St. Francis County jail on first-degree murder charges and remained there Tuesday afternoon, according to an online jail roster. Another suspect in the slaying, Tre’von Hill, 19, was booked into the Greene County jail on Oct.

22.

All three remained at their respective facilities Tuesday afternoon, according to an online jail roster. Smith said their bonds had been set at $2 million each.

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — “It’s okay to be white” flyers were placed throughout East Tennessee State University’s campus, including to cover a memorial for the school’s first African-American students.

ETSU President Brian Noland moved quickly on Saturday to denounce the flyers and called it an attack on the campus and its values.

And on Monday, Noland said in a statement that campus staff acted quickly to remove the flyers.

The school is one of several throughout the nation where groups have recently emailed or posted flyers with the slogan, which is used among racist groups. Incidents were reported in California, Connecticut and Oklahoma.

Noland said the flyers were identical to those placed on college campuses across the country by white supremacist groups “in an attempt to seed division and discord.”

“We will respond to this attempt to sow seeds of division by carrying forward our work to support an inclusive and affirming campus,” Noland said. “I am confident that we will continue to serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for our region through our unwavering support for all of the diverse members of our university community.”

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Reeves wins Mississippi governor’s race

JACKSON, Miss. – Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves won the race for Mississippi governor Tuesday night, defeating Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood.

Republicans were on track Tuesday to control all statewide elected offices in Mississippi and are expected to maintain super-majority control of the Legislature.

In unofficial results, Reeves led Hood on Tuesday night 53% to 46%. After a race filled with attack ads, Reeves took a conciliatory tone in his victory speech in downtown Jackson.

“We all know that campaigns are necessarily tough. Battles in the Legislature can be tough,” Reeves said. “But we only have one governor. And that one governor must serve one people and that means all the people of Mississippi.”

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence both traveled to Mississippi within the last week to rally for Reeves. Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama recorded a last-minute robocall in support of Hood.

Reeves noted he disagreed with Hood on issues, but called him a dedicated public servant and asked the crowd to applaud Hood.

Hood conceded the race at about 10:30 p.m., telling supporters, “We’ve run a good race. I appreciate your support, and we’ve had fun.”