In the quiet area of Lonsdale, Arkansas, the morning of Sunday, May 28, 2017, was shattered by the sound of gunfire. At approximately 8:30 a.m., deputies from the Saline County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the 18000 block of Highway 70 following a call about shots being fired. Upon their arrival, they discovered a grim scene. An unresponsive male was found on the property, and it was quickly determined that he was deceased.
The man was identified as 35-year-old James Lamere of Benton, Arkansas.
The responding deputies secured the area, and detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division were called to the scene. The investigation that followed determined that Lamere's death was a homicide, and a search for the person or persons responsible began. Detectives worked diligently on the case for several days, seeking any information that could lead to a break in the investigation.
The efforts of law enforcement paid off when, on June 4, 2017, an arrest was made in connection with the murder of James Lamere. The United States Marshal Service apprehended Benjamin Gurley, a 36-year-old man from North Little Rock, in Jerusalem, Arkansas. Gurley was taken into custody as the primary suspect in the homicide, bringing a significant development to the investigation into the shooting death of James Lamere.
