In the late summer of 2023, the life of 25-year-old Khalila Martindale Jr., a Black/African American male from Little Rock, Arkansas, was tragically cut short. On the first of August, a Tuesday, officers from the Twelfth Street Patrol Division were dispatched to a residence on South Oak Street following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Martindale suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound.
Despite the efforts of emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Little Rock Police Department's Homicide Detectives and Crime Scene Search Unit promptly began their investigation, canvassing the neighborhood for any potential witnesses and searching for video surveillance that might shed light on the events that transpired. Their efforts soon led to the identification of three individuals as suspects in the fatal shooting. The investigation culminated in the arrests of 21-year-old Evelyn Alexander, 24-year-old Eric Davis, and 23-year-old Marquis Smith. All three were subsequently charged with capital murder for their alleged involvement in Martindale's death, with Smith also facing unrelated narcotics charges.
In the wake of this violence, Martindale's family and members of the community gathered for a balloon release to honor his memory. During this gathering, grief was mingled with frustration as family members voiced criticism towards the police response time. They alleged that a neighbor had attempted to call 911 after hearing gunshots but was unable to get through, resorting to driving to a nearby police station to report the incident in person. Khalila Martindale Jr. is survived by his mother, Christie Williams, and his children.
