On August 1, 2023, 25-year-old Khalila Martindale Jr., a Black man from Little Rock, Arkansas, was found with an apparent gunshot wound at a residence on South Oak Street and was pronounced dead at the scene. Little Rock Police Department Homicide Detectives and the Crime Scene Search Unit canvassed the neighborhood and sought video surveillance in their investigation.

Investigators identified three people as suspects and charged 21-year-old Evelyn Alexander, 24-year-old Eric Davis, and 23-year-old Marquis Smith with capital murder in connection with Martindale’s death; Smith also faced unrelated narcotics charges. Family and community members held a balloon release to honor Martindale and expressed frustration that a neighbor reportedly could not reach 911 by phone and instead drove to a police station to report the shooting.

Martindale is survived by his mother, Christie Williams, and his children. If anyone has information about the shooting or witnessed activity on South Oak Street that evening, please come forward.