In the early evening of December 16, 2015, the life of Feron Shadell Whitley, a 22-year-old Black man, was tragically cut short. Police were called to the Autumn Park Apartments in Little Rock, Arkansas, around 5:15 p.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Feron deceased in the driver's seat of his silver Dodge Avenger, having sustained apparent gunshot wounds.
His death marked the 29th homicide in the city that year.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to identify two individuals as suspects in the case. A warrant was issued for 21-year-old Brandon Nevels, who was already incarcerated at the Pulaski County Regional Jail on unrelated charges. On January 28, 2016, he was formally charged with capital murder in connection with Feron's death. The second suspect, 19-year-old Nautica Finney, surrendered to the police a few days later on January 31, 2016, and she was also charged with capital murder.
In a later development in August 2016, Nautica Finney accepted a plea agreement. The capital murder charge against her was dismissed, and in exchange, she pleaded guilty to robbery and a firearm enhancement charge. For these offenses, she received consecutive sentences that totaled 30 years in prison. Brandon Nevels, meanwhile, remained in custody as he awaited his trial for capital murder.
