In the quiet town of Ruston, Louisiana, the evening of October 14, 2020, was shattered by a violent altercation that left Jeffery Omar Owens, a 57-year-old Black / African American male, dead. The Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office responded to a call about a shooting at approximately 9:16 PM in the 100 block of Barker Drive. Upon their arrival, deputies discovered Owens' body in the roadway.
The investigation that followed painted a grim picture of a family dispute that had spiraled out of
control. Earlier that evening, Owens and a relative, identified as 34-year-old Jimario Brien Arthur, had been engaged in a heated verbal argument. Following the initial confrontation, Arthur returned to his home. However, the conflict was far from over. Owens, along with a group of other individuals, allegedly pursued Arthur to his residence.
The situation quickly escalated from a verbal disagreement to a physical fight. It was during this physical altercation that the fatal shooting occurred. Witnesses at the scene provided statements, and along with other evidence gathered by the Sheriff's Office, a narrative of self-defense began to emerge. The preliminary findings of the investigation suggested that Arthur had acted to protect himself during the confrontation.
In light of the evidence pointing towards a self-defense scenario, no arrest warrants were immediately sought for Jimario Brien Arthur. The case was subsequently handed over to the Third Judicial District Attorney's Office for a thorough review. The Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office described the event as a tragic and unfortunate incident where a family argument had devastating and life-altering consequences for everyone involved.
