In the summer of 2022, a planned robbery during a drug deal tragically ended the life of Christoph Jarek “CJ” Vick, a 19-year-old male from Star City, Arkansas. The fatal encounter unfolded on the evening of July 4, 2022, in the parking lot of a Dollar General located at 612 South Lincoln Avenue in Star City.
The series of events began when Vick and an associate, William Pearson, made arrangements to buy half an ounce of marijuana from Dawson Maples, a 19-year-old from Benton.
However, their actual intention was to rob Maples. Vick and Pearson entered a green Toyota Prius driven by Maples, where an unidentified Black male was seated in the front passenger seat. According to the Lincoln County Prosecutor, Pearson drew a gun on Maples and demanded the drugs. In a swift turn of events, Maples produced a gun for himself and handed another to the passenger. A struggle ensued, with Pearson, who was in the back middle seat, reportedly pinning Maples's arm against the car's ceiling. It was at this point that the unidentified passenger shot Vick multiple times. Pearson later told law enforcement that neither he nor Vick knew the shooter's identity.
After the shooting, Pearson was instructed to remove Vick from the vehicle. Law enforcement later located the Toyota Prius at Maples Investments, a business owned by Maples' father in Benton. A search of the vehicle uncovered evidence of the violent encounter, including two apparent bullet holes in the roof, two in the back seat, and muzzle burns on the ceiling. Investigators also found two bullet fragments in the back seat. The car's interior appeared to have been cleaned, and authorities did not find any shell casings, weapons, or Vick's backpack inside.
Dawson Maples was subsequently arrested and faced charges of First-Degree Murder, delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a communications device, and tampering with physical evidence. His bond was set at $75,000. As of the initial reports, the police were still working to identify the second individual involved in the shooting.
