Robert Hayes was 21 when he was shot late on April 23, 2021, at an apartment complex in the 300 block of North Caraway Road in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Officers arriving just after 11 p.m. found him gravely wounded; life-saving measures were attempted and he was taken to a local hospital where he died. A neighbor reported hearing an argument followed by a rapid burst of gunfire from an apartment below shortly before police arrived.

Detectives quickly focused on a suspect and broadcast lookout information. Around 2:40 a.m. on April 24, police located and arrested 25-year-old Zarkeem Jefferson of Columbia, Mississippi. Investigators said a 911 caller reported that Jefferson had shot someone and fled. Jefferson was charged with first-degree murder and a judge set bond at $2 million cash-only at his next court appearance. Public incident records list the address as 301 N. Caraway Road and show the victim was killed and the suspect arrested without injury.

Robert L. Hayes IV’s obituary and community memorial pages confirmed his April 23 death and funeral arrangements. If anyone knew Robert or has information about the shooting, please come forward with what was seen or heard that night.