On the evening of May 7, 2026, a burst of gunfire shattered the relative quiet of a gas station at 101 North Blake Street in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, leaving two men dead and two others wounded. One of the men who lost his life was 32-year-old TaMarcus McMiller. When police responded to the scene shortly after 9:30 p.m., they discovered McMiller near the front door of the business, having sustained apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another man, later identified as 28-year-old Markevious Boales, was found in the parking lot and was rushed to Jefferson Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
According to witness statements and evidence gathered at the scene, the deadly encounter began when a group of males, including the two who were injured, approached McMiller in front of the store. An exchange of gunfire erupted between the group and McMiller, resulting in the tragic loss of two lives and injuries to two others. A few blocks from the gas station, police located 36-year-old DeShawn Sanders and 23-year-old VonKavious Briggs, both of whom had also been shot. They were transported to the hospital for treatment.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Pine Bluff Police Department announced that the two surviving men from the group that approached McMiller would face serious charges. VonKavious Briggs was released from the hospital and subsequently arrested and booked on two counts of capital murder. Authorities also stated their intention to arrest DeShawn Sanders on the same two counts of capital murder once he is released from the hospital, where he was undergoing surgery for his injuries. The investigation into the circumstances that led to the fatal shootout is ongoing.
