On a spring morning in Little Rock, Arkansas, the life of Learthur Darnell Shelton Jr., a 32-year-old Black / African American man from Pine Bluff, was tragically cut short. The date was April 17, 2021, when at approximately 9:30 a.m., events unfolded in the 900 block of Fair Park Boulevard that would end in fatal violence. Shelton was discovered suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency services arrived at the scene and transported him to UAMS Medical Center in an effort to save his life, but his injuries proved to be too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly. Later that same day, law enforcement authorities made an arrest in connection with the homicide. Acie Cummins, a 44-year-old man from Little Rock, was taken into custody. He faced serious charges, including first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by certain persons. Following his arrest, Cummins was held in the Pulaski County Detention Center, with his bond set at a substantial $1,000,000.
Learthur Shelton Jr. was born on September 4, 1988, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to Reverend LeArthur D. Shelton Sr. and Annette Smith. After graduating from Stuttgart High School in 2006, he worked in a variety of fields, including carpentry, automotive work, and landscaping. His most recent employment was with Tyson Foods in Pine Bluff. He was a family man, having married LaTiya Jenkins in February 2015, and was a father to four children. His funeral service was held on April 27, 2021, at New Community Church, and he was laid to rest at Wabbaseka Cemetery. He is remembered by his loved ones for his dedication to his family and his readiness to lend a helping hand to others.
