Makylia My'Shunn Matthews, known to loved ones as "Meezy," was a 22-year-old Black woman from Little Rock, Arkansas. Her family described her as goofy, funny, smart, positive, and loving. The youngest of four sisters, she was honored after her death with a balloon release by family and friends who gathered to mourn their loss.
On the afternoon of Sunday, June 23, 2024, officers with the 12th Street Division responded to a shooting call in the 500 block of East 22nd Street.
They arrived to find Makylia suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel attempted life-saving measures, but she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Homicide detectives were called to take over the investigation. They secured the area as a crime scene and began to canvass the neighborhood for potential witnesses and video surveillance. The Pulaski County Coroner’s office transported Makylia’s body to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy. Her parents, Fabian Matthews and Robin Watson, were notified of their daughter's death.
The investigation continued for two months and ultimately led detectives to two suspects. On August 21, 2024, the Little Rock Police Department arrested 21-year-old Nemiah Woods in connection with the homicide. Less than a week later, on August 26, a second suspect, 20-year-old Zacorian Hickey, was also taken into custody. Both men were charged with capital murder.
The case against one of the men proceeded to court. In May 2026, a trial resulted in the acquittal of the suspect.
