On a Sunday afternoon in Little Rock, Arkansas, the life of 40-year-old Charles Gantt Jr. was tragically cut short. On March 23, 2025, police responded to a disturbance call at 1:41 p.m. in the 10000 block of Sibley Hole Road. While on their way, a second emergency call reported a shooting at the same location. Upon arrival, officers discovered Charles Gantt Jr. suffering from a gunshot wound.
Despite the efforts of paramedics who responded to the scene, Gantt succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. His body was then transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy.
Born in Little Rock on January 26, 1985, to Charles Edward Gantt, Sr. and Vicki Gantt, Charles Jr. was known as the life of family gatherings. He had a passion for cooking, with a particular love for Mexican food. A man of faith, he had accepted Christ at an early age. His sense of humor was evident in a saying he had about his own passing: “Don't be crying over me! Just cremate me and take me everywhere you go! LOL”. He was a father to ten children: Keshawn, Chamya, Dylan, Charles III, Courtland, Chaniya, Marten, Madison, Charlotte, and Marleigh.
The Little Rock Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation, securing the area and canvassing for witnesses and any available video surveillance. Their investigation quickly led to suspects. On March 25, just two days after the shooting, police arrested 21-year-old Tony Smith Jr. and charged him with capital murder. Smith pleaded not guilty the following day. The investigation continued, and on April 10, a second suspect, 28-year-old Kaylin McElwee, was taken into custody and also charged with capital murder in connection with Gantt's death.
