Jacksonville, Ark. (KATV) — A tough week in Jacksonville took an even heavier turn after a shooting Sunday left a 6-year-old boy dead.
Investigators have identified the child as Amir Houston.
Jacksonville police said officers responded Sunday evening to a shooting in the 2000 block of Cloverdale Road and found Houston suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Police said he died while being taken to a local hospital.
As investigators search for the suspect, Arkansas Stop the Violence held a press conference urging anyone with information to come forward.
“We’re just asking for justice for this family, like I said, no closure for a six-year-old baby or any other homicide, especially for a six-year-old baby,” said the Rev. Benny Johnson.
Johnson and Pastor Walter Crochran warned that staying silent could put others at risk.
“If you withhold the information, you can be the very next victim. This person is inhumane. Who did this?” Crochran said. “It’s no way that you can have peace in your heart. There’s no way that you’re able to rest knowing that you killed a little innocent baby.”
Roger Chambers, founder of the Stuttgart Civil Rights Party, said he understands the family’s pain and called for the community to do more to protect children.
“Precious people, and we need to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to protect them,” Chambers said.
Johnson also encouraged Jacksonville residents to support Houston’s family as the investigation continues.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to this family, and we want to do the thing to help bring justice who killed your precious baby,” he said.
Jacksonville police have identified 21-year-old Artavis Dontal Johnson as a suspect in the homicide.
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Police said he was last seen in a 2012 white Hyundai Elantra and is considered armed and dangerous.