In the summer of 2016, a tragic event unfolded in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, that cut short the life of 32-year-old Eric Johnson, a Black male. On the evening of June 24th, officers responded to a call about a man down near the intersection of Dollarway Road and McConnel Avenue. They discovered Johnson lying in the street. Conscious but unable to feel anything below his neck, he initially believed he had been struck by a vehicle.
Rushed to a local hospital for medical attention, the true
nature of his injuries was soon revealed: Johnson had sustained a gunshot wound to his neck. He was subsequently transferred to a hospital in Little Rock for more specialized care. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, his condition did not improve. Ten days after being found, on the morning of July 4, 2016, Eric Johnson succumbed to his injuries.
Following his death, the Pine Bluff Police Department reclassified their investigation from an aggravated assault to a homicide. Authorities believed that on the night of the shooting, Johnson had been at one or more residences in the Dollarway area. The investigation into who was responsible for his death remains ongoing, and to date, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. The case continues to be an open homicide investigation as police seek information from the public to bring justice for Eric Johnson and his family.
