In the small town of Gould, Arkansas, a domestic disturbance shattered the morning peace on October 2, 2022, ending in the tragic death of 82-year-old Willie Mae Sanders. The African American woman was fatally shot at her residence on Pope Street shortly after 8:00 a.m. The violence that erupted that morning also left three other individuals wounded.
Emergency services arrived at the scene to find a chaotic and heartbreaking situation. Willie Mae Sanders was pronounced dead at her home. Two other individuals, Tasha Hensley, 38, who also lived at the residence, and Terrence Loudermilk, 48, had sustained gunshot wounds. Both were transported to a hospital in Little Rock for treatment. Hensley was reported to be in stable condition, while Loudermilk required surgery. A fourth person, 55-year-old Tony R. Lewis, another resident of the home, was also wounded during the altercation.
Following the incident, the Arkansas State Police were called in to investigate the shooting. Special agents recovered multiple firearms from the residence. After receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Pine Bluff, Tony R. Lewis was taken into custody by the Gould police. He was subsequently incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center in Star City. Lewis was charged with capital murder in connection with the death of Willie Mae Sanders. Her body was taken to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory to determine the precise cause and manner of her death. The investigation into the events that led to the fatal shooting is ongoing as authorities work to bring clarity and justice to a case that deeply affected the small community.
