On October 5, 2020, 36-year-old Travis Belk was fatally shot in West Helena, Arkansas. The incident occurred near KIPP Delta Elementary School on North 10th Street, prompting a lockdown at the school during dismissal. Witnesses reported seeing Belk and another man exchanging gunfire before he collapsed in the street.
Following the shooting, authorities identified Demarious White, 28, as a suspect.
White turned himself in to the Helena-West Helena Police Department and was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault, terroristic act, and possession of a firearm. He was booked into the Phillips County Detention Center with a bond set at $590,000.
Travis Belk was a resident of West Helena, Arkansas. He was born and raised in East St. Louis, Illinois, and later moved to Helena, Arkansas, in 2005, where he attended and graduated from Central High School. He was a member of Grace Tabernacle Church in East St. Louis.
Prior to this incident, Belk had been involved in a separate criminal case. In October 2015, he was arrested and charged with 12 counts of attempted first-degree murder, arson, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. This arrest was related to an incident where Belk and another individual allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at a home and fired upon the occupants, forcing them back inside.
The tragic death of Travis Belk highlights the ongoing issues of gun violence and public safety in the West Helena area. The community continues to grapple with the impact of such incidents, and local authorities are working to address these challenges through various initiatives and law enforcement efforts.
