In the quiet town of Perryville, Arkansas, a young man's life was tragically cut short in the line of duty. Jeremiah James Story, a 21-year-old male, served as a detention officer for the Perry County Sheriff's Office. On the evening of Wednesday, June 22, 2022, what began as a routine booking process turned into a fatal encounter that would leave a community in mourning and a family forever changed.
That night, inside the Perry County Detention Center, Roderick Lewis, a 37-year-old from
North Little Rock, was being processed on drug and paraphernalia charges. As Lewis was changing out of his civilian clothes into jail-issued attire in a bathroom, the situation escalated with sudden violence. Lewis produced a pistol that he had managed to conceal and opened fire, striking Officer Story. The young officer was gravely wounded and rushed to a hospital in Conway, where he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of the following day.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, a witness was able to disarm Lewis. The Arkansas State Police were called in to lead the investigation into the homicide. Lewis was subsequently transferred to the Faulkner County Detention Center as the investigation proceeded. The investigative case file was later turned over to the Perry County prosecuting attorney to determine the appropriate charges.
Roderick Deshawn Lewis was charged with capital murder in connection with the shooting death of Detention Officer Jeremiah Story. The incident prompted an outpouring of grief and support for Story's family and the law enforcement community. Story was remembered as a dedicated officer who was also a veteran of the Arkansas National Guard. He had served with the Perry County Sheriff's Office for two years, and his loss was deeply felt by those who knew him and the community he served.
