In the early evening of March 28, 2022, a sense of community and recreation at Johnson Park in Jacksonville, Arkansas, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 39-year-old Anthony Cousette. At approximately 7:00 p.m., Cousette was the victim of a fatal drive-by shooting at the park located at 1100 Goshen Street. When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they discovered Cousette unresponsive, suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was quickly transported to a nearby hospital, but tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the death of the male victim swiftly commenced, with police seeking assistance from the public. Investigators urged residents living within a one-mile radius of Johnson Park to review any video surveillance footage from the evening of the shooting, specifically between 6:50 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. They were on the lookout for a vehicle of interest described as a newer model gray SUV, possibly a Dodge Durango, distinguished by chrome wheels with a white outer lip. The efforts of the Jacksonville Police Department, in conjunction with the Central Arkansas Crime Stoppers, led to a significant development in the case.
Nearly three months after the shooting, on June 20, 2022, a capital murder warrant was issued for 18-year-old Demarcus King Jr. in connection with Cousette's homicide. King was also facing warrants for two counts of attempted capital murder and discharging a firearm from a vehicle. The search for King came to a dramatic and tragic end just two days later. On June 22, 2022, he was involved in a high-speed chase in Texas. The pursuit concluded when the vehicle King was in struck a ditch. After exiting the vehicle, King shot himself. He was transported to a hospital and died the following day, on June 23, 2022. Despite the identification of a suspect, the investigation into Anthony Cousette's death is considered ongoing, and authorities have continued to appeal to the public for any additional information regarding the incident.
