In what should have been a night of celebration, marking a pivotal moment in a young man's life, tragedy struck in West Helena, Arkansas. Lorenzo Harrison III, an 18-year-old male, was killed in the early morning hours of Sunday, April 21, 2024. A senior at Central High School, Lorenzo was attending a prom afterparty, an event that tragically became the backdrop for his untimely death.
The gathering was located across the street from Ater Warehouse at 3235 Highway 49.
The Phillips County Sheriff's Office received a call for assistance at approximately 1 a.m., responding to the scene where the fatal incident had unfolded. Lorenzo Harrison III was the victim of a shooting. His body was later transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy to officially determine the cause and manner of death. The news of his passing sent shockwaves through the community, particularly among his classmates and friends at Central High School, just weeks before he was set to graduate. The Helena-West Helena School District expressed their profound grief, describing the event as a 'senseless act of violence' and made crisis teams available to support grieving students and staff.
In the wake of the shooting, the Arkansas State Police's Criminal Investigation Division was called in to lead the investigation. They quickly identified a suspect, 19-year-old Donterious Stephens of Helena, a former graduate of the same high school. After an initial search, Stephens turned himself in to authorities on the afternoon of Sunday, April 21. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and possession of firearms by certain persons. Stephens is being held in the custody of the Phillips County Sheriff's Office.
