Hate Crime: White County, Arkansas

#WhiteCounty authorities are providing more information after a teen was found dead early in July 2024. Police said 17-year-old #BrendonBerryhill was shot and killed Saturday at a #CircleK in White County near #Judsonia #Arkansas . Authorities said the investigation began after a White County deputy found Berryhill’s body in the middle of Salem Church Road while patrolling the area around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday. “When he observed a van run over what he then saw was a body lying in the road,” Lt. Scott Seiders said. Seiders said the deputy found gunshot wounds on the victim, later identified as #Berryhill, and discovered he was dead before the car struck him. Officials said they later discovered that was the second crime scene.
“Unfortunately, it took a while to learn that, and that’s because a gas station attendant came forward, and called us and told us that something had happened,” Seiders said. Authorities said video evidence shows Berryhill parked at the Circle K gas station on Highway 13 when another car parked beside him, eventually resulting in an argument. According to police, the video shows Berryhill driving away before one suspect fires at him, followed by a second suspect firing before driving off. Deputies said they believe Berryhill then drove himself to the #SalemChurch Road area.
“There is someone close to him that was in that area, we think he was trying to make contact with them when he expired,” Seiders said.
In between deputies putting the pieces together, police said the suspects’ vehicle led Judsonia officers on a chase, with the officers unaware of the initial shooting at the gas station. After that chase ended without an arrest, officials said another pursuit occurred involving several other agencies, including #ArkansasStatePolice who ended it in #CrittendenCounty.
Police said the driver was taken into custody for several traffic offenses. “Unfortunately, I think this could’ve been solved a lot faster if the public had come forward quicker, there were people at the gas station when this happened, and they didn’t call,” Seiders said.
Seiders said homicides are rare in White County but happen enough that deputies have the experience needed to investigate them.
“We’ve issued four arrest warrants for four different individuals, two of them are currently in custody, and the marshals have been informed of the other two and are assisting with that search, they are not local to White County,” Seiders said. Officials with the White County Sheriff’s Office said 20-year-old #JonathanArrington and 18-year-old #JaydenStylesSolang have been arrested in connection with the incident. Police said U.S. Marshals are still searching for 18-year-old #JVionTodd and 21-year-old #KydavienGreen.

Sources:

Caroline Derby, "White County Authorities", KARK, https://www.kark.com/crime/white-county-authorities-provide-more-details-on-deadly-shooting-of-teen/

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