On July 16, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, resulting in the deaths of two teenagers, including 14-year-old Vaniya Bennett. The shooting took place at 2303 West 17th Avenue, near the campus of Southeast Arkansas College. Vaniya Bennett was shot inside the home, while 17-year-old Zamarion Moten was shot to death in the front yard.
An 18-year-old, Kaden McKay, was also injured in the shooting and found in a bedroom with a gunshot wound; he has since recovered.
The incident was a drive-by shooting, with witnesses reporting that a vehicle drove by the residence and someone on the passenger side fired shots from the window. This senseless act of violence has left Vaniya's family and the community in grief. Vaniya's mother, Vanessa Washington, expressed her devastation and anger, describing her daughter as an innocent bystander who did not deserve to die. Vaniya was remembered for her promising future, her love for making dance videos on TikTok, and her aspirations to attend college.
The Pine Bluff Police Department identified two suspects in connection with the double homicide: 19-year-old Trenton Xavion Rogers and 18-year-old Jayvion Marquet Williams. Both men are wanted for multiple felonies, including two counts of capital murder, battery in the first degree, terroristic act, and unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle. Jayvion Marquet Williams turned himself in and was booked into the Jefferson County jail, while Trenton Xavion Rogers remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous.
The community and law enforcement have been deeply affected by this and other recent homicides involving teenagers in Pine Bluff. Police Chief Denise Richardson and Mayor Shirley Washington have assured the public that the police are actively working to solve these cases and have offered condolences to the families of the victims. The incident has highlighted the urgent need to address youth violence in the area.
