In the early morning hours of January 25, 2020, the lives of a Little Rock, Arkansas family were irrevocably shattered. On that day, 24-year-old Brittany Tate, a Black female, and her 21-year-old cousin, I'Quira Tate, were fatally shot inside a residence on South Ringo Street. The incident, which police would later describe as an isolated domestic event, also left I'Quira's two-year-old son wounded by gunfire.
The young child was transported to a nearby hospital in serious condition but was later released.
Authorities were called to the scene around 1:38 a.m., where they found both women deceased. In the immediate aftermath, investigators indicated they had a person of interest in mind, suggesting a targeted attack rather than a random act of violence. For years, the case remained without a resolution, leaving the family and community searching for answers and justice for the two young mothers. The Little Rock Police Department offered a $10,000 reward for information that would lead to an arrest and conviction, as the families publicly pleaded for anyone with knowledge of the crime to come forward.
After a lengthy investigation, a significant breakthrough was made in the case. Clifton D. Laster was arrested and charged in connection with the deaths of Brittany and I'Quira Tate. He faces two counts of capital murder for the killings and a charge of first-degree battery for the injuries sustained by the toddler. The arrest brought a measure of relief to the grieving families who had long awaited this development. The suspect was reportedly an acquaintance of the victims.
