Week of July 12–18, 2026 | Arkansas Breaking News
A sweeping federal drug indictment, five homicides from Jonesboro to Little Rock, and an arrest in the death of a Marked Tree police officer headlined a violent week across Arkansas.
Feds indict 23 in California-to-Arkansas meth pipeline
Federal authorities on Thursday announced the indictment of 23 people accused of running a methamphetamine trafficking operation that funneled hundreds of pounds of the drug from Los Angeles into central Arkansas.
Thirteen defendants were arrested Tuesday in Arkansas, California and Texas as part of “Operation Return to Sender,” a two-year Homeland Security Task Force investigation led by the DEA’s Little Rock office, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
In total, investigators seized approximately 312 pounds of methamphetamine — including 186 pounds intercepted from eight packages mailed to Arkansas in buckets in late 2025, and another 120 pounds recovered during Tuesday’s arrests, along with four firearms and about $35,000 in cash.
Prosecutors allege the organization was directed by Christerious Wooten, 34, of North Little Rock, who they say arranged for couriers to carry cash from Arkansas to Los Angeles to pay supplier Ronji Hill, 57. Hill then allegedly shipped meth to residential addresses in Pulaski and Chicot counties.
Fourteen defendants were in custody as of Thursday. Two remain fugitives: David Ellis, 42, of Malvern, and Corey Lucas, 48, of Little Rock. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Read our full coverage: 23 Indicted, 312 Pounds of Meth Seized in Federal Bust Targeting Little Rock Trafficking Ring; 2 Fugitives Still Wanted
Homicides across the state
Jonesboro — Theodis Haggins, 42, was shot and killed late Sunday, July 12, at an apartment complex in the 1100 block of Walker Place. Officers responded around 11:10 p.m. and found Haggins with a gunshot wound; he died at a local hospital. No arrests had been made as of early in the week. Anyone with information is asked to call Jonesboro police at (870) 935-5657.
Source: Jonesboro Police Department (via social media statement); additional reporting by KAIT
Blytheville — A 17-year-old died after being shot Monday, July 13, in the 1300 block of Kingwood. The teen was taken to Great River Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. Christopher Brimlett-Blankenship, 20, of Blytheville, was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor. He was being held in the Mississippi County jail with no bond set.
Source: Blytheville Police Department; additional reporting by WREG
Little Rock, West 10th Street — Jose Miguel Quiroz-Mata, 44, was found shot to death inside a vehicle in the 4200 block of West 10th Street after officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation at 6:09 a.m. Tuesday. [VERIFY: KATV’s initial report dates the shooting July 14; LRPD’s release says July 15.] Detectives arrested Yudith Reyes, 49, and Luis Felipe Reyes-Isabel, 22, who were each charged with one count of capital murder.
Source: Little Rock Police Department (official homicide release)
Little Rock, West 29th Street — A man was found dead from gunshot wounds Wednesday evening, July 15, after officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation in the 4300 block of West 29th Street around 5:47 p.m. Police have not released the victim’s identity or any suspect information. Tips can be directed to the LRPD Major Crimes Division at (501) 371-4660.
Source: Little Rock Police Department
Little Rock, Young Road — A man was fatally stabbed early Thursday, July 16, in the 5700 block of Young Road. Officers responding to a “cutting in progress” call at 1:54 a.m. found the victim dead at the scene. Police have not identified the victim or named a suspect.
Source: Little Rock Police Department
Texarkana man sentenced to 80 years in 2024 killing of 17-year-old
A Miller County jury on Monday, July 13, convicted Tyrese Jefferson, 21, of murder in the August 2024 shooting death of 17-year-old Marious L. Bradley in Texarkana, Ark.
Officers with the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department responded to a shooting in the 2500 block of East 24th Street around 8:20 p.m. on Aug. 12, 2024, where they found Bradley suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts by officers and Texarkana Arkansas Fire Department personnel, Bradley died at the scene.
Detectives identified Jefferson, then 19, as the suspect through witness statements, evidence collection and follow-up investigation that ultimately led to a confession, according to the department. Jefferson received 40 years for murder and 20 years each on two counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm — a total of 80 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Source: Texarkana Arkansas Police Department (official statement)
Officer’s death leads to arrest
Marked Tree police officers and Arkansas State Police arrested Kareem Jones, 28, of Marked Tree, on Friday, July 17, in connection with the death of Marked Tree Police Department Officer Trevor Howard. Jones faces charges of negligent homicide and driving while intoxicated stemming from the June crash that killed Howard.
Source: Arkansas State Police news release, July 17, 2026 [LINK: swap in direct release URL]; also posted at portal.arkansas.gov/news
Second murder charge for Little Rock man
A 22-year-old Little Rock man already facing a murder charge was charged this week in a second killing — a June drive-by shooting that left a 23-year-old Jacksonville man dead and wounded two others in Little Rock.
Source: Pulaski County Circuit Court records [PULL: name and case number from CourtConnect]; first reported by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (subscriber)
Trooper finds 150 pounds of marijuana on I-40
An Arkansas State Police trooper stopped a van on Interstate 40 near the 2-mile marker in Crawford County around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 15. During a search, troopers discovered approximately 150 pounds of high-grade, illegal marijuana packaged in multiple bundles.
The driver, Marlinda Compere Exceus, 28, of Stockbridge, Ga. [VERIFY: outlets citing the same ASP release list her hometown as both Stockbridge, Ga., and Stockbridge, Calif. — confirm against the release], told investigators she was traveling from California to White Hall. She was booked into the Crawford County Detention Center on felony charges of possession with the purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Source: Arkansas State Police news release, July 16, 2026
Other notable arrests
Harrison — Arkansas State Police CID special agents arrested Larry Hayden Graddy, 72, of Harrison, on Tuesday, July 14, on two felony counts of rape. The investigation began in June at the request of 14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge.
Source: Arkansas State Police news release, July 15, 2026
Paragould — ASP special agents arrested Tammy Doherty, 54, of Paragould, in connection with a theft investigation dating to July 2024. Doherty previously served as financial director for the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
Source: Arkansas State Police news release, July 17, 2026
Weiner — Weiner City Councilman Arthur Booth turned himself in Monday, July 13, at the Poinsett County Detention Center, where he was charged with three counts of third-degree stalking.
Source: Arkansas State Police news release
Fort Smith — Fort Smith police are investigating a Tuesday evening shooting that left one person with life-threatening injuries.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
EDITOR’S CHECKLIST (delete before publishing)
- [ ] Resolve W. 10th St. date conflict (July 14 vs. 15) against LRPD’s official Facebook post
- [ ] Resolve Exceus hometown conflict (Stockbridge, Ga. vs. Calif.) against ASP release
- [ ] Check for victim IDs released late in the week: W. 29th St. and Young Road homicides
- [ ] Confirm Fort Smith shooting status/condition
- [ ] Get name of 22-year-old charged in second slaying (check Pulaski County CourtConnect)
- [ ] Swap DPS news feed links for direct release URLs (feed search: dps.arkansas.gov/news-feed)
- [ ] Grab direct Facebook post URLs for Jonesboro PD and Blytheville PD statements
- [ ] Sweep Pine Bluff, NLR, Hot Springs, Texarkana AR-side PD pages for anything not picked up by TV/wire
