On the evening of June 15, 2019, the life of James Harold Griffin Jr., a 54-year-old White/Caucasian male, was tragically cut short in his North Little Rock, Arkansas, home. What began as a quiet evening in his mobile home at the Keller Mobile Home Park turned into a scene of violence when two men forcibly entered the residence he shared with his wife, Tammie Smith. During the course of this home invasion, Griffin was shot.
He was rushed to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Neighbors would later remember him as a 'happy-go-lucky guy' who was funny and kind.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the two assailants abducted 35-year-old Susan Lee Smith from the home, escalating the violent encounter into a kidnapping. A search was launched for the suspects and the missing woman. Fortunately, Susan Lee Smith was found safe the following day. North Little Rock Police detectives began to piece together the events of that fatal evening, believing it to be an isolated incident rather than a random act of violence posing a continued threat to the wider community.
The investigation led to the identification of two suspects. One of the men, 54-year-old Joe Vincent, was apprehended by law enforcement in connection with Griffin's murder and the abduction. He was subsequently sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the crimes. The second suspect was identified as Anthony Wilson, 43, of Pasadena, California. While Vincent was brought to justice, Wilson remained elusive. Law enforcement agencies issued alerts describing him as armed and dangerous and sought the public's assistance in locating him. As of the latest available information, Anthony Wilson remains at large, and the North Little Rock Police Department continues to seek leads regarding his whereabouts.
