The July 4th gunshot death marks Little Rock’s 27th homicide of 2023

Little Rock, Arkansas – On the 3800 block of Baseline Road, a party rapidly turned into a crime scene Tuesday night. Less than an hour prior to Little Rock Police responding to a 911 call for a different kind of explosion, the sky was filled with fireworks.

Since moving into the Pine Plaza Apartments years ago, Donald and Dalene Yarbrough claim that this is the first homicide they have witnessed.

“They were shooting firecrackers and that stuff off, and we were in the bed, and it woke me up. I said, ‘What was that’ and all at once I heard somebody fall up there on the floor,” Donald Yarbrough recalled.

The Yarbroughs said they recognized the victim as their neighbor, however as of Wednesday night, police had not released the victim’s identity.

“Every time we would sit out here, he would say ‘Hi.’ Why’d they kill him?”, Darlene Yarbrough questioned.

Ollie Jones, 39, was questioned by detectives before being taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder. He has a $100,000 bond and is being held at the Pulaski County Detention Facility. The deceased was declared dead at the spot, according to the police.

“They say he was shot five times in the head,” Donald Yarbrough said.

The Yarbroughs claimed that any sense of security they formerly felt was gone, even if their home is now safer.

“We’re scared to live here,” Dalene Yarbrough said.

This was Little Rock’s 27th homicide of 2023. 43 were reported by July 4 of the prior year.