In the pre-dawn hours of a Monday morning in Little Rock, Arkansas, a fatal encounter unfolded at a local convenience store. On August 1, 2016, 20-year-old Jarvis Garner, a Black male, was shot and killed at the EZ Mart on Mara Lynn Road. The incident, which marked the city's 19th homicide of the year, stemmed from a confrontation in the parking lot near the gas pumps.
Earlier that morning, Garner and his girlfriend had an argument, which led to her walking to the nearby convenience store. When Garner arrived at the EZ Mart, he was met by the store's clerk, Nicholas Beasley. An exchange of words escalated quickly. Beasley, 28 at the time, reportedly approached Garner and instructed him to leave the property. According to reports, Beasley claimed that Garner had been disrespectful to him and other employees in the past.
During the verbal altercation, Beasley produced a handgun and fired multiple shots at Garner, leading to his death at the scene. Beasley alleged that he shot Garner in self-defense, claiming he believed Garner was about to hit him. However, following an investigation by the Little Rock Police Department, Beasley was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Authorities noted that it was an unusual circumstance for a store clerk to be involved in such a violent confrontation in the parking lot. Beasley pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and his bond was set at $50,000.
