On January 30, 2021, 29-year-old Tony Anthony Cole II was fatally shot in Strong, Arkansas. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. at a pool house off U.S. Highway 82. Upon arrival, deputies learned that Cole had been transported to the Medical Center of South Arkansas in El Dorado, where he was pronounced dead before he could be flown out for further treatment. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The Union County Sheriff's Department identified the suspect as 31-year-old Markeith Mitchell. Mitchell turned himself in without incident and was charged with first-degree murder. Sheriff Ricky Roberts noted that Mitchell and Cole were friends, but the motive for the shooting was not immediately clear.
Tony Cole II was born on May 4, 1991, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was the son of the late Tony Cole and Sharon R. Davis. At an early age, he joined Shady Grove of Memphis, Tennessee, and later moved to El Dorado, Arkansas, where he became a member of Christ Missionary Baptist Church. He was an active member of the church choir and served as its leader. At the age of 16, he lived in Ghana, West Africa, where he experienced the African culture until 2011. He married Sharmane Walker Cole on May 3, 2012, and together they had four children: T'Shar, T'Shon, Shariahna, and Travez. Tony was a man of many talents, including welding, carpentry, tattoo artistry, songwriting, barbering, and singing. He was deeply loved by his family and friends, and his greatest accomplishment was being a devoted father.
The tragic loss of Tony Cole II left a profound impact on his family, friends, and the community of Strong, Arkansas. His obituary reflects the love and admiration he received from those who knew him, highlighting his many talents and his dedication to his family.
