On a Wednesday afternoon, the life of 8-year-old JaMichael Terrell Petty, a Black male, was tragically cut short in a violent act that also claimed the life of his mother. The date was September 15, 2021, when Little Rock police responded to a call of a shooting in progress at a residence on Nichols Road around 3:30 p.m. Inside, they made a grim discovery: the bodies of JaMichael and his 32-year-old mother, Shunterris Salter.
Both had been fatally shot.
The subsequent investigation into the double homicide pointed to 24-year-old Malcolm Ester as the primary suspect. Investigators learned that Ester had been in a romantic relationship with Salter, but she had recently ended their relationship. It was reported that Ester had not taken the breakup well.
Malcolm Ester was arrested and faced two counts of capital murder for the deaths of the young boy and his mother. He was held without bond at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility. The community was left to grapple with the senseless loss, while family and friends mourned a boy remembered for his bright personality. They described JaMichael as a peacemaker, a talented dancer, and a comedian who brought joy to those around him. His obituary lovingly referred to him as the 'Nerf Gun king' and 'The Spiderman of the Salter Grand Clan,' a natural leader among the younger children in his family.
