Deante Smith, 22, was shot while holding his one-year-old daughter during a Saturday-night carnival in the parking lot of the Outlets of Little Rock at 1 Bass Pro Drive. The shooting happened around 6 p.m. on April 10, 2021; bystanders tried CPR after his sister cradled him, and he died at the hospital the following day.

Police detained a 16-year-old, Keaton McGee, at the scene that night. While being escorted for medical treatment at the Little Rock Police Department’s 12th Street substation, he escaped, triggering a perimeter search with dogs and drones and a public warning that he was armed and dangerous. Four days later he surrendered at a MAPCO and was served an escape warrant; detectives then worked to serve an arrest warrant for capital murder in Smith’s killing. Reports also linked him to a separate February shooting in the Otter Creek area.

Smith’s family described him as a devoted young father, and relatives called for justice and counseling for the children who witnessed the chaos. The parking lot remained taped off as detectives processed the scene and investigators asked the public for tips.

If anyone was at the carnival that night or has information about the shooting, can you share what you saw or heard?