On the evening of Memorial Day, May 29, 2017, Richard Wilkins Jr., a 28-year-old male, was fatally shot at Williams Park in Blytheville, Arkansas. The incident, which occurred around 8:30 p.m., was the culmination of an ongoing dispute that did not initially involve him. According to authorities, Wilkins' brother was the intended target of the altercation.
The conflict had been brewing for about a month between Wilkins' brother and three Blytheville residents: Cameron Wells, Quadrell
Dequan Bledsoe, and Gerome Spiller. On that evening, the three men arrived at the park in a black car and confronted Wilkins' brother. Spiller allegedly emerged with a handgun but then threw it to the ground to engage in a physical fight with the brother. As the altercation progressed and Wilkins' brother seemed to be gaining the upper hand, Wells and Bledsoe joined the fray.
During the melee, Wells reportedly picked up the discarded handgun and aimed it at Wilkins' brother, who had been knocked to the ground. In a final, selfless act, Richard Wilkins Jr. jumped over his brother to shield him from the gunshot. The bullet struck Wilkins, and as everyone scattered, his brother rushed him to the Great River Medical Center, where he later died.
In the days following the shooting, the three suspects turned themselves in to the police. Quadrell Bledsoe and Gerome Spiller surrendered on Tuesday, while Cameron Wells turned himself in on Wednesday. All three were charged with first-degree murder. Wells faced an additional charge for possession of a firearm. The investigation revealed that Wilkins was not the target of the violence but tragically lost his life while protecting his brother.
