In the early morning hours of a Sunday in September, the sounds of gunfire shattered the quiet along Asher Avenue in Little Rock, Arkansas. Just after 2:30 a.m. on September 15, 2019, multiple ShotSpotter activations drew the attention of the Little Rock Police Department to an area between the 4300 and 5100 blocks. A separate call to dispatch reported a man down at a Superstop convenience store within that same stretch of road.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered 29-year-old
Emmanuel Cooper suffering from several apparent gunshot wounds. They immediately began administering life-saving measures until emergency medical personnel could take over. Despite their efforts, Cooper was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was a male.
As the investigation into Cooper's death began, another piece of the puzzle emerged at a local hospital. Officers were called to UAMS Hospital where they found 20-year-old Daquayveon Flanagan being treated for a gunshot wound to his left forearm. Flanagan stated that he had been shot on Asher Avenue, the very same location where Cooper had been found. His injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel processed the scene on Asher Avenue, shutting down a portion of the thoroughfare to preserve evidence and canvass for any potential witnesses. As part of their investigation, two vehicles believed to contain property belonging to the victims were impounded to await search warrants. After further investigation and a review of the evidence collected, authorities issued an arrest warrant for Daquayveon Flanagan. On Tuesday, October 1, he was charged with Murder in the First Degree and a Terroristic Act in connection with the death of Emmanuel Cooper.
