Zadarius Olando Merritt, 21, was shot during a dispute inside a home in the 4400 block of Southbrook Drive in Jonesboro on the evening of Wednesday, May 6, 2026. He was taken to St. Bernards Medical Center but died of his injuries.

Authorities say the primary suspect, 19-year-old Rodarious Turelle Johnson of West Memphis, fled the scene with a female companion; both were located and arrested in a neighboring county. At Johnson’s first court appearance on Friday, May 8, 2026, a judge found probable cause to charge him with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by certain persons. The court set a $2 million cash-only bond and ordered GPS ankle monitoring; the female companion was not charged.

Johnson’s next court appearance was scheduled for June 26, 2026. Does anyone have information about Merritt, his movements that evening, or the incident on Southbrook Drive?