On the evening of March 22, 2025, 52-year-old Earl Taylor, an African American man, was found by officers in Atkins Park in Marianna, Arkansas, lying next to his vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene and the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division took over the inquiry into the fatal shooting.

Investigators worked for weeks before announcing arrests. On April 18, 2025, authorities charged 21-year-old Tyrese Mitchell and 27-year-old Derrick Morris with first-degree murder in connection with Taylor’s death. Morris was also charged with possession of firearms by certain persons, and Mitchell faced an additional count for possession of a machine gun device. Both were booked into the Lee County Jail on $1 million bond each.

No motive has been disclosed and officials have not made public any known connection between Taylor and the two men charged. Does anyone have information about Earl Taylor, his activities in Marianna, or what might explain why he was in Atkins Park that night?