On the evening of February 19, 2025, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the life of 36-year-old Dewayne Franklin Jr., a Black male, was cut short by an act of violence. Officers, responding to reports of a shooting, arrived at a residence to find Franklin Jr. on the floor with a gunshot wound to his upper torso. He was immediately rushed to CHI St. Vincent Hospital for emergency treatment.
Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of February 20, 2025.
Known affectionately by friends and family as 'Poppa,' Dewayne Franklin Jr. was described as a loving and kind person with a big heart. His warm, infectious smile and his signature bear hugs were a comfort to those who knew him. A devoted father, his greatest joy was his son, Dewayne Franklin III. He had a passion for creating music and had been a talented and competitive athlete in his youth, excelling in basketball. He was remembered as someone who was full of life, outgoing, and who cherished his relationships with family and friends.
In the wake of the shooting, an investigation by Hot Springs detectives led to a swift arrest. Jerry Wayne Burks Jr., 46, was taken into custody in connection with the fatal incident. Burks Jr. was subsequently charged with first-degree domestic battery and possession of a firearm by a certain person. The authorities have not released specific details about the motive behind the shooting or the nature of the relationship between Burks and Franklin Jr.
