John Allen Staats, a 15-year-old male, was discovered deceased inside a vehicle on Stanton Road in Little Rock shortly after midnight on January 27, 2025. He had sustained apparent gunshot wounds. A freshman at Catholic High School for Boys, John was a talented and multi-faceted individual. He was a member of the school's JROTC program and the football team.
His passions extended beyond athletics; he was a gifted musician who played the violin with the Arkansas Symphony Youth Ensemble for a number of years and had been playing the piano since the age of six. He was also a member of the Little Rock Dolphins swim team.
His family described him as a very good and sweet boy who was smart, fun, and enjoyed making people laugh. He was a good student with a passion for both football and sports in general. John was also a person of faith, having been baptized in July 2019 at Pleasant Valley Church of Christ, and was said to have natural and deep thoughts on religion. His adventurous personality allowed him to make friends easily, and his bright smile and sparkling personality were known to light up a room. His art instructor once commented that he was a born artist, noting the natural and vivid quality of his sketches.
In connection with the death of John Staats, a 15-year-old suspect named Jevon Butler turned himself in to the police less than 24 hours after John's body was found. The suspect was arrested and charged with capital murder. A judge has ordered the case to be sealed, limiting the public release of further details regarding the investigation and the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The school community at Catholic High held a prayer service for John, remembering him as a good kid, a good student, an athlete, and a musician.
