On the evening of September 6, 2026, the life of 19-year-old Braxton Ratliff of North Little Rock, Arkansas, was tragically cut short. Police were called to a Circle K convenience store on Pike Avenue at approximately 10 p.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Ratliff inside the store, suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Despite the efforts of first responders, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident quickly turned into a homicide investigation as detectives from the North Little Rock Police Department began to piece together the events of that fatal night.
The investigation into Braxton Ratliff's death swiftly led to the identification of a suspect. Detectives named 18-year-old Kendrick Givens Jr. as the individual responsible for the shooting. A warrant for his arrest on the charge of capital murder was promptly obtained. Law enforcement officials considered Givens to be armed and dangerous and sought the public's assistance in locating him. Their efforts paid off when Givens was located and taken into custody without incident at a residence on Sycamore Street late on a Monday night.
Following his arrest, Kendrick Givens Jr. was booked into the Pulaski County Detention Facility on the charge of capital murder. He was held without bond and was scheduled for his initial court appearance on the Wednesday morning after his arrest. While the arrest marked a significant development in the case, bringing a suspect into the legal system, the subsequent court proceedings, including details of a trial, conviction, or sentencing, have not been publicly detailed. The case remains a somber reminder of a young life lost to violence, with the pursuit of justice for Braxton Ratliff continuing through the judicial process.
