In the early evening of June 1, 2014, in Monticello, Arkansas, a call reporting a shooting at 537 Lincoln Court sent officers rushing to the scene. There they discovered 20-year-old Deangelo Martin, a young man from the community, suffering from a gunshot wound to his head. Emergency responders quickly transported him to a local medical center, from where he was airlifted to a hospital in Little Rock for more advanced care. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Deangelo Marquese Martin succumbed to his injuries the following day, June 2, 2014.
Deangelo, born on May 28, 1994, was a 2012 graduate of Monticello High School where he had been active in athletics, particularly enjoying baseball and football. After high school, he attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello for a time and had worked for a local construction company and Walmart. He was known for his love of family and friends and for encouraging his siblings to pursue their goals. Those who knew him described him as a young man who was always smiling, joking, and managed to stay out of trouble.
In the wake of the shooting, the Monticello Police Department began an investigation that quickly led to an arrest. Harold Goffin 3rd, a 19-year-old from Monticello, was taken into custody in connection with Deangelo's death. Goffin was charged with manslaughter and tampering with evidence and was held at the Drew County Detention Center. Preliminary findings from the investigation suggested that the shooting was the result of a reckless accident rather than an intentional act.
