In the early morning hours of Sunday, April 5, 2026, the sounds of a bustling gathering at 6888 Highway 18 East in the Needham community were pierced by gunfire. When Craighead County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene around 1:30 a.m., they discovered 42-year-old Courtney Mullins in the parking lot, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency medical services were called, and life-saving measures were initiated before Mullins was transported to a local hospital, where he was
ultimately pronounced dead. Authorities believe Mullins, a male, was a resident of Mississippi County. The event he was attending, advertised as the “Pressure & Friends 6th Annual Bash,” was a large affair with live performances, drawing a significant crowd.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to the identification of a suspect. Demetrie Allen, a 33-year-old from West Memphis, was taken into custody on Monday, April 6, 2026, following a traffic stop on Interstate 55 near the Mississippi-Crittenden County line. He was subsequently booked into the Craighead County Detention Center on a charge of first-degree murder. Investigators were still working to determine the motive behind the shooting that cut Courtney Mullins's life short.
However, the case took an unexpected turn just a few days later. On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Demetrie Allen was released from the Craighead County Detention Center. The release came after witnesses to the shooting recanted their initial statements and changed their stories. The investigation into the death of Courtney Mullins remains ongoing, leaving a void of unanswered questions and a search for justice that continues.
