In the early morning hours of April 28, 2025, the life of 45-year-old David James, a Black male from North Little Rock, was tragically cut short. Police responded to the intersection of 15th and Commerce Street in Little Rock just before 3:30 a.m. to check on a subject. Upon arrival, officers discovered James suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds.
Emergency medical services attempted life-saving measures, but he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The Little Rock Police Department's Homicide Detectives and Crime Scene Search Unit promptly began an investigation. Detectives canvassed the area, searching for potential witnesses and any available video surveillance that might shed light on the events that led to James's death. The Pulaski County Coroner's office transported his body to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy to confirm the cause of death and to make a positive identification.
Just under a month later, on May 26, 2025, a significant development occurred in the case. The investigation led to the arrest of three individuals from Little Rock in connection with the homicide. Lamar Chavis, 43, Valen Gilmer, 34, and 39-year-old Megan Henderson were taken into custody. All three have been charged with Capital Murder. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding David James's death is ongoing.
David James was remembered as a cherished member of his community. He is survived by his three children, Nicholas Daniel James, Losharicka Nikole Marie James, and Kaleiyah James, as well as his mother, Cleaster Davis, a grandson, Braxton Badgett, and three siblings. Funeral services were held on May 10, 2025, to honor his memory.
