In the early evening of November 20, 2021, a burst of violence at the intersection of Tennessee and Washington Avenue in Forrest City, Arkansas, cut short the life of 41-year-old Everett Williams. Williams, a Black male, was discovered at approximately 6:30 p.m. with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency responders arranged for him to be airlifted to Regional One Medical Center for treatment of his critical injuries.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Williams ultimately succumbed to his wounds.
The investigation into the shooting led Forrest City authorities to identify two suspects in the fatal incident. On December 6, 2021, detectives conducted a felony traffic stop and arrested Lloyd Barber and Romero Barber in connection with Williams' death. Both men were taken into custody without incident and were subsequently charged with first-degree murder. The arrests brought a measure of progress in a case that had shaken the local community.
Further legal proceedings revealed a history of violent offenses for one of the accused. Lloyd Barber was later convicted of second-degree murder in late 2023 for his role in Everett Williams' death and was sentenced to 30 years in state prison. It was noted that at the time of the shooting, he had been out on an early release from a previous incarceration. The disposition of the case against Romero Barber has not been publicly detailed.
