Dominique LaShon Otey, a beloved father, son, and brother, was 22 years old when his life was tragically cut short in his hometown of Helena, Arkansas. Born on June 9, 1995, to Carlis Givens and Johnny Otey, Dominique was known as a family man, devoted to his young daughter, Ja’Leeah Kamari Otey. He was part of a large, close-knit family with numerous brothers and sisters. Having found his faith at an early age at the St. Paul M.B. Church, he was a member of the Shiloh M.B. Church in Bobo, Mississippi. He is remembered with love by a host of relatives and dear friends who cherished him.
The afternoon of Thursday, May 17, 2018, brought sudden violence to a neighborhood in Helena-West Helena. Around 3:30 p.m. on Elm Street, an argument escalated into a physical altercation. The conflict took a fatal turn when one person, who had reportedly arrived in a dark-colored SUV, produced a gun and opened fire. Dominique, a Black man, was struck by the gunfire.
He was rushed to Helena Regional Medical Center, but his injuries proved too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
The Helena-West Helena Police Department immediately began a homicide investigation. Drawing from witness statements and evidence gathered at the scene, detectives quickly identified four persons of interest: 20-year-old Devonta Higgins, 21-year-old Tommy Higgins, 19-year-old Diamond Higgins, and a juvenile whose name was not publicly released. The vehicle believed to have been used by the suspects was later found at the residence of Tommy Higgins's mother, marking a significant step in the investigation.
In the days that followed, the investigation saw rapid developments. Police took Devonta Higgins, Diamond Higgins, and the juvenile suspect into custody for questioning. While they were later released, authorities indicated that charges could still be filed against Diamond Higgins as the investigation continued. One primary suspect, Tommy Higgins, remained at large, and investigators believed he might have fled Arkansas. A nationwide alert was issued for his arrest, with law enforcement agencies in Alabama and Tennessee, where he had family connections, put on notice.
Subsequent developments brought some measure of legal resolution to the case. Diamond Higgins was later taken into custody in connection with Dominique Otey's death. However, public records indicate that by December 2021, he was convicted of several unrelated, minor offenses, suggesting he was not ultimately incarcerated for the homicide. Criminal records from Phillips County show that in June 2019, Tommy Higgins was charged with second-degree murder. The final disposition of his case, as well as any charges or outcomes related to Devonta Higgins, have not been made publicly available.
Dominique Otey was laid to rest, leaving his grieving parents, his daughter, and a wide circle of siblings, grandparents, and other family members to mourn their profound loss. The case, which is now considered to have active litigation, has seen some progress but still leaves many questions unanswered for Dominique's loved ones and the community. As of the latest available information, the full scope of the legal consequences for all individuals initially identified in connection with his death is not entirely clear.
