On a winter afternoon in Little Rock, Arkansas, the life of 24-year-old Zachary Ester was tragically cut short. On December 27, 2020, police responded to what initially appeared to be a car accident in the 8400 block of Labette Drive around 1:00 p.m.. Upon their arrival, they discovered Ester inside a vehicle that had crashed into a utility pole. However, it soon became clear that this was no ordinary traffic incident.
Ester had sustained a fatal gunshot wound, and it was determined that the shooting had occurred inside the car, causing it to reverse and collide with the pole.
Zachary Ester's death was part of a grim and violent holiday weekend in Little Rock, during which three other homicides occurred in separate incidents across the city. The string of killings prompted concern from local officials, with the Little Rock Police Chief at the time highlighting a troubling trend of conflict resolution issues within the community. The violent end to the holiday season left several families grieving and a city searching for answers.
The investigation into Zachary Ester's murder spanned several years and led law enforcement across state lines. In the weeks following the shooting, investigators diligently pursued leads which ultimately pointed to two individuals. The first break in the case came on January 14, 2021, when U.S. Marshals located and arrested 24-year-old Curtland Watson Jr. in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was taken into custody in connection with Ester's death and awaited extradition back to Little Rock to face charges.
More than two years later, a second suspect was apprehended. On May 20, 2023, the Little Rock Police Department arrested 29-year-old Josh Britton for his alleged role in the killing. Britton was subsequently charged with capital murder and was held without bond at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility. The arrests of Watson and Britton marked significant milestones in the long and arduous investigation, bringing a measure of progress for those seeking justice for Zachary Ester.
