In the quiet town of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, a tragedy unfolded on the night of December 30, 2017, ending the life of 50-year-old Chonda Owens. A Black/African American woman, Chonda was a mother and grandmother, deeply connected to her community through the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church-Sandtuck. That evening, what began as a domestic disturbance escalated into a fatal encounter.
Police were dispatched to the couple's home around 10 p.m.
following a report of a domestic dispute. Prior to the shooting, a woman had reported that Lyndon Jerome Burkett, Chonda's 51-year-old husband and a reverend at the same church, had punched her in the face. Upon their arrival, officers heard a single gunshot from within the residence. Inside, they discovered Chonda Owens, who had been fatally shot.
The scene that confronted the officers was grim. Chonda was deceased, and her husband, Lyndon Burkett, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was in critical condition and immediately airlifted to Regional One Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Tragically, the couple's two young grandchildren, aged five and six, were present in the home at the time of the incident. They were physically unharmed and were taken to the police station for their safety.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Lyndon Burkett was identified as the suspect. He faced serious charges, including capital murder, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a minor. The incident sent shockwaves through the local community, leaving many to grapple with the violent end to Chonda Owens' life at the hands of her husband, a respected pastor. The case highlighted the devastating impact of domestic violence. A fundraising page was later set up by Chonda's family to support her daughter and grandchildren in the wake of their profound loss.
