In the winter of 2019, a young woman's life was cut tragically short in West Memphis, Arkansas. Megan Brooke Rivera, a 22-year-old female, was fatally shot in an encounter with police on the evening of January 16th. The events that led to her death unfolded at approximately 9:30 p.m. near the intersection of 18th and McAuley.
Megan, who was originally from Lancaster, South Carolina, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 30-year-old De'Angelo Jamar Brown, also of Lancaster.
The situation escalated when West Memphis police officers attempted to stop their vehicle. Brown reportedly refused to stop, leading to a confrontation where he rammed police cruisers. It was also reported that an officer was run over during the incident. In response to the escalating situation, officers on the scene opened fire on the vehicle.
Both Megan Brooke Rivera and De'Angelo Jamar Brown were pronounced dead at the scene. The incident prompted an investigation by the Arkansas State Police, who were tasked with reviewing the circumstances of the officer-involved shooting. As is standard procedure, the findings of their investigation were to be submitted to the prosecuting attorney to determine the legality of the use of deadly force by the officers involved. In the immediate aftermath, six West Memphis police officers were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The officer who was injured during the altercation was treated at a hospital and subsequently released.
