In the early afternoon of December 4, 2022, a sense of unease settled over the 2000 block of East 24th Street in Texarkana, Arkansas. At approximately 3:28 p.m., the sharp report of gunfire shattered the Sunday quiet, drawing the immediate attention of the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department. Upon their arrival, officers discovered a scene that would soon cast a somber shadow over the community. They found 19-year-old Keeunta Tyshun Gilliam, a male, suffering from a critical gunshot wound.
Emergency medical services were promptly dispatched, and he was rushed to Wadley Hospital in a desperate attempt to save his life. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Gilliam succumbed to his injuries, his life tragically cut short.
The investigation into the shooting quickly gained momentum as detectives from the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division began to piece together the events that led to the fatal encounter. Their diligent work soon pointed them toward a primary suspect: 18-year-old Jamauri Montavious Davis, also a resident of Texarkana. Believing they had sufficient probable cause, investigators secured a warrant for Davis's arrest on the grave charge of first-degree murder. Recognizing the potential danger to the public, the police issued a public alert, cautioning that Davis should be considered armed and dangerous and appealing for any information regarding his whereabouts.
For over a week, the search for Davis continued, heightening tensions within the community. The search came to a peaceful conclusion on December 13, 2022, when Jamauri Davis chose to surrender to the authorities. His first appearance in court followed on December 16, where a judge set his bond at a substantial $500,000. A subsequent legal maneuver to have the bond reduced was denied by the court, ensuring Davis would remain in custody at the Miller County jail as he awaited trial. The legal proceedings faced delays, including a postponement for a competency evaluation to determine his fitness to stand trial. While the wheels of justice began their slow turn, the family and friends of Keeunta Gilliam mourned their profound loss, laying him to rest on December 17, 2022.
