In a tragic turn of events on January 29, 2019, Ava Cato, a 57-year-old Black female from Little Rock, Arkansas, was found deceased in her home on Dorset Drive. The evening was shattered around 6:11 p.m. when a distress call was made by Ava's daughter, Avery Cato. Avery reported the horrifying news that her brother, Harrison Cato, had just shot their parents.
Upon their arrival at the residence, Little Rock police officers discovered a grim scene.
Both Ava and her 58-year-old husband, Bennie Cato, were found inside, having sustained fatal gunshot wounds. As they continued to secure the home, officers located 35-year-old Harrison Cato on the back porch with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the deaths of Ava and Bennie Cato quickly focused on their son, Harrison, as the sole suspect in what was determined to be a double murder-suicide. Further investigation into the family's history revealed a troubled past. Records indicated that Harrison had a history of domestic violence, with multiple arrests over the preceding decade. In a foreshadowing of the eventual tragedy, Ava had sought a restraining order against her son in 2012. Following the conclusion of the investigation, the case was closed with no further arrests made.
