In the early hours of May 31, 2026, a tragic event unfolded at a BP gas station on Ingram Boulevard in West Memphis, Arkansas, leading to the death of 22-year-old Dermarius Smith. Responding to a call about a shooting shortly after 1 a.m., West Memphis police officers arrived to find Smith near the entrance of the convenience store with multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite the prompt response from emergency services, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The investigation into the death of Dermarius Smith moved swiftly as detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division began processing the scene and gathering evidence. Their efforts quickly identified four individuals as suspects in the fatal shooting. On the same day as the incident, police apprehended two of the suspects: 22-year-old Aschton Hazley and 20-year-old Aiyden Stallings. A couple of days later, on Tuesday, June 2, the remaining two suspects, 18-year-old Jaquinta McKinney Jr. and 21-year-old Terry Sanders III, turned themselves in to the authorities.
All four men—Aschton Hazley, Aiyden Stallings, Jaquinta McKinney Jr., and Terry Sanders III—are facing serious charges in connection with the death of Dermarius Smith. The charges brought against them include first-degree murder, committing a terroristic act, and aggravated assault. As of the latest available online reports, which date back to early June 2026, there is no further public information regarding the progression of this case through the legal system. Details concerning any subsequent trials, convictions, or sentencing for the four accused individuals are not available in the public record at this time. The case, which began with a violent altercation at a local gas station, saw the quick arrest of four suspects, but the ultimate resolution and any potential meting out of justice remain outside of the public view.
