Erica Mechelle Chew, a 42-year-old African American woman from Blytheville, Arkansas, was fatally wounded on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2023, in a shooting that cut her life short. The incident occurred in the vicinity of Willow and Madison streets in her hometown. Following the shooting, Chew was initially transported to Great River Medical Center before being transferred to Regional One Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
In the days following the shooting, the Blytheville Police Department identified 34-year-old Elbert Earl Thomas, Jr. as a suspect in connection with Chew's death. Authorities subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest on a charge of second-degree murder, considering him to be armed and dangerous. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting is ongoing.
Erica Mechelle Chew was born on August 14, 1981, and was a mother to two sons and a daughter. Remembered for the time she cherished with her family and friends, her death left a significant void in the lives of her loved ones. Her funeral service was held on December 1, 2023, at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Blytheville, and she was laid to rest in Gethsemane Gardens Cemetery.
