On what should have been a festive Christmas morning, tragedy struck in a Forrest City, Arkansas subdivision. Kenyatae 'Tae' Chism, a 36-year-old man, was found with a gunshot wound to his chest on December 25, 2021. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries at the Forrest City Medical Center, leaving his family and friends to grapple with a devastating loss on a day typically reserved for celebration.
Kenyatae, born on June 1, 1985, was remembered as a man with a
contagious laugh and a smile that could light up any room. A proud 2004 graduate of Forrest City High School, where he excelled on the football field, he was known for his stylish presence and for being the life of any party. He was a father to two sons and three daughters and cherished spending quality time with his family and friends. His death, particularly on Christmas Day at the residence of his family, was described by the Forrest City Police Chief as 'downright evil.'
For two months, the investigation into Kenyatae's death continued until a suspect was identified. Detectives named Voltaurus Parchman Jr. as the individual responsible for the fatal shooting. The search for Parchman led authorities to Jonesboro, Arkansas. There, in a seemingly mundane setting, the chapter of a two-month-long manhunt came to a close. Officers located and arrested Parchman at a Golden Coral restaurant without incident.
Following his apprehension, Voltaurus Parchman Jr. was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Christmas day shooting of Kenyatae Chism. While an arrest was made, the motive behind the tragic event was not immediately released by law enforcement officials. The arrest brought a measure of progress for a grieving family and community, though the senseless act had irrevocably taken a man from his loved ones.
