Cameron Pearson

Cameron Pearson was a 20-year-old Black man from Little Rock, Arkansas, remembered by friends and family as a goofy, loving, and sweet person. Those who knew him, some of whom called him "C Ray," recalled his caring and giving nature. He was described as an awesome person who is deeply missed.

On the evening of Friday, August 30, 2019, Cameron’s life was cut short. Just before 6:30 p.m., Little Rock police officers responded to reports of gunfire at a residence in the 1900 block of South Pulaski Street. When they arrived, they found Cameron on the front porch suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His death was the city’s third homicide in a single week.

The investigation quickly uncovered that Cameron had been involved in a physical altercation earlier that day with another man, identified as 26-year-old Derrick Dewayne Green. Investigators came to believe that Green returned to the location later that day and shot Cameron. A neighbor who knew Green, a welder who lived with his aunt, expressed surprise at the incident, stating that Green was not a violent person.

The day after the shooting, police located and arrested Derrick Green. He was booked into the Pulaski County jail and initially charged with capital murder. In November 2021, Green pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree murder for his role in Cameron Pearson’s death. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison.