On what would have been the eve of his 29th birthday, 28-year-old Edwin 'Ed' Swan, a Black/African American male, was fatally shot in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on September 6, 2022. Swan was a dedicated student at the University of Arkansas, on the cusp of graduating in December of that year with a degree in Criminal Justice and a commendable 3.87 GPA.
His life was abruptly cut short in a brazen act of violence that unfolded in a public space, surrounded by witnesses and cameras.
The incident occurred outside the McDonald's on College Avenue. An officer conducting a nearby traffic stop heard the gunshots and quickly responded to the scene. Swan was found with two gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Fayetteville Police later stated that the shooting did not appear to be a random act, suggesting that the individuals involved knew each other. The tragic event was captured on the restaurant's security camera footage, providing crucial evidence for the investigation that followed.
In the days following the shooting, authorities identified 22-year-old Keyvon Jarrett as a person of interest. Jarrett eventually turned himself in to the police in Conway on September 10, 2022. He was then transferred to the Washington County jail and booked on a capital murder charge. According to court testimony, Jarrett had seen Swan at the McDonald's, parked his vehicle nearby, and approached Swan on foot as he was walking to his own car. It was then that Jarrett fired twice before fleeing the scene. Investigators also linked Jarrett to an attempted armed robbery that occurred just three days after Swan's death at a travel center in Crawford County.
After several rescheduled trial dates, a Washington County jury convened for the capital murder trial. Over two days, the prosecution presented its case, which included the security camera footage of the incident. On July 29, 2025, the jury found Keyvon Jarrett guilty of the capital murder of Edwin Swan. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The prosecutor described the killing as an 'execution-style murder,' and the jury's verdict ensured that Jarrett would be held accountable for his actions. The conclusion of the trial brought a measure of justice for Edwin Swan and his grieving family and friends, who remembered him as a man who loved to travel, never met a stranger, and had a sincere and joyful heart.
