On July 11, 2019, 18-year-old Justin Bell was fatally shot in Little Rock, Arkansas. Police responded to reports of gunfire near the intersection of 11th and Lewis streets around midnight. Upon arrival, they found Bell lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency medical services transported him to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators collected evidence from the scene, including two mopeds, which were towed to the Little Rock Police Crime Scene Bay for processing. They also interviewed potential witnesses to gather information about the incident.
The following day, July 12, 2019, 24-year-old Anthony Thomas Jr. was arrested in connection with Bell's murder. Thomas Jr. surrendered to detectives and was charged with first-degree murder.
The arrest of Thomas Jr. marked the 24th homicide in Little Rock for that year.
Justin Bell was a resident of Little Rock and had attended Hall High School, Forest Heights Middle School, and Dunbar Middle School. He was affectionately known by the nickname 'MooMoo' and was remembered by friends and family as funny, kind, and caring. His untimely death was mourned by his community, who lit candles and shared memories in his honor.
