On a Sunday afternoon, March 23, 2025, the life of Charles Edward Gantt, Jr. was cut short in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was a 40-year-old male. Authorities were initially called to a disturbance at a residence on Sibley Hole Road. While officers were on their way, the situation escalated dramatically as a second emergency call reported that a person had been shot at the same location.
Upon their arrival at the scene, police discovered Gantt suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot
wound. Emergency medical services responded to the urgent call, but his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the residence. Homicide detectives were promptly notified and began a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The area was secured, and the Crime Scene Search Unit was called in to process the scene for evidence while detectives canvassed the neighborhood, searching for any potential witnesses or video surveillance that could shed light on the tragic event.
The investigation led to the identification of suspects. Just two days after the incident, on March 25, 2025, authorities took 21-year-old Tony Smith Jr. of Little Rock into custody. He was subsequently charged with Capital Murder. The investigation continued to progress, and on April 10, 2025, a second suspect, 28-year-old Kaylin McElwee, also from Little Rock, was arrested and faced the same charge of Capital Murder in connection with Gantt's death.
