In the late hours of a December evening in West Memphis, Arkansas, the life of 21-year-old Samuel Johnson was tragically cut short. On December 28, 2022, at approximately 10:54 PM, police responded to reports of gunfire at the intersection of Ingram Boulevard and East Barton Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered Samuel Johnson, a male resident of West Memphis, lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds.
Emergency medical services were dispatched to the scene and attempted to
stabilize Johnson before rushing him to Baptist Crittenden Hospital. Despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. The West Memphis Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division immediately began an investigation, processing the crime scene and speaking with potential witnesses.
Through their investigation, which included the review of surveillance footage and witness interviews, detectives were able to identify three suspects. Arrest warrants were issued for 18-year-old Jotavion Ross and 15-year-old Tyler Triplett, both of West Memphis, on charges of Capital Murder. A third individual, Tracey Brown, was also taken into custody and charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution. Ross was apprehended by a Special Response Team at a local motel, where he was found to be armed. Triplett later turned himself in to the authorities. Due to his juvenile status, Triplett's photograph was not released to the public.
