In the early morning hours of July 9, 2020, a disturbance at a residence on Skipper Bridge Road in Dermott, Arkansas, marked the beginning of a violent encounter that would leave one man dead. Johnny Hayes, a 49-year-old Caucasian male, was involved in an argument that initially drew police to his home around 12:22 AM. Officers responded to quell the disturbance and then departed.
However, the peace was short-lived, and the situation escalated with tragic speed.
Approximately 45 minutes after the first call, Dermott police were dispatched back to the same address, this time for a report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered a grim scene in the front yard. Johnny Hayes was found lying unresponsive, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound. His 64-year-old mother, Carolyn Hayes, was also present and wounded by gunfire. Emergency services transported Johnny to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His mother was treated for her injuries and subsequently released.
The investigation into the homicide was a collaborative effort involving the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division, the Dermott Police Department, and the sheriff's departments of Drew and Chicot counties. Their joint probe quickly led to the identification of two suspects from Dermott. On July 11, 2020, just two days after the shooting, authorities arrested 27-year-old Mario Milton and 24-year-old Alicia King in connection with the incident.
Following the arrests, Mario Milton was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Johnny Hayes and first-degree battery for the wounding of Carolyn Hayes. Alicia King faced a charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution. Both suspects were taken into custody and held in Chicot County to await their first court appearance, as the community began to process the violent end to a local dispute.
