On a Saturday evening in the summer of 2024, gunfire disrupted a neighborhood in Little Rock, Arkansas, ending the life of a young man. Xavier Sanders, a 20-year-old Black male, was shot on July 27 in the 6600 block of Lancaster Road. Little Rock police officers responded to a shooting call at 9:01 p.m. and found Sanders suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Paramedics were called and attempted life-saving measures, but his injuries proved fatal.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Homicide detectives and the Crime Scene Search Unit were soon on location to begin their investigation, securing the area and gathering evidence. The Pulaski County Coroner transported Sanders's body to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy to determine the official cause and manner of death.
In an unusual development that evening, a juvenile approached officers at the scene and stated that he was the person they were looking for. This individual was taken into custody for questioning by the Major Crimes Division but was later released pending further investigation. Police initially asked anyone with information regarding the homicide to contact them.
The investigation into the death of Xavier Sanders continued, and authorities later made an arrest in connection with the killing. According to the latest available information, a suspect was charged with murder. As of July 2026, the suspect was awaiting trial.
