Jeremiah Nicholas Allen, 22, a Fort Smith resident, died on February 14, 2021 after suffering a gunshot wound. Police were alerted around 8 p.m. when detectives were called to an area hospital; Allen died while being transported there for treatment. Authorities said early on that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident, with no broader threat to the public.
Investigators quickly identified a suspect, and by the next day announced the arrest of 22-year-old James Michael Eugene Shoemake. Shoemake was booked on a first-degree murder charge in connection with Allen’s death. Officials did not immediately release details about what led to the shooting or the precise location, beyond noting the evening timeframe and that detectives were continuing their work.
In the days that followed, tributes noted Allen’s roots in Fort Smith and marked the loss of a young man whose life ended abruptly on Valentine’s Day. Public memorial listings record his full name and dates, anchoring the official confirmation of his death and age.
