The suspect in an overnight homicide told North Little Rock police he accidentally shot his friend while handling a gun in the back seat of a car, a few hours after the suspect graduated from high school and one day before the victim was scheduled to do so as well.
North Little Rock police have identified the victim as 18-year-old Benjamin Redix from White Hall, who was scheduled to graduate from White Hall High School tonight. According to Deltaplex News, Redix was a standout athlete for the Bulldogs and had planned to attend Southern Arkansas University on a track scholarship.
The White Hall School District mourns the tragic loss of Benjamin Redix. Ben was an outstanding athlete, student, and friend. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with his family, classmates, and all who loved and knew him.
— White Hall School District (@WHSD_Bulldogs) May 19, 2023
Police have arrested 17-year-old Jimari Douglas, of the unincorporated Yorktown community in Lincoln County, and charged him as an adult with manslaughter.
According to the police report, Douglas had graduated from high school earlier last night. Star City High School, located near Yorktown in Lincoln County, held its graduation ceremony last night, according to the Star City School District website.
According to the police report, officers found Redix lying in the road next to the driver’s side door of a Toyota Avalon at about 11:08 p.m. last night. Redix was bleeding from the chest and was suffering from at least one gunshot wound “to the back/chest.” Police found Douglas at the scene “running around stating ‘he is gone.'”
MEMS responded to the scene and declared Redix deceased.
After having been read his Miranda rights, Douglas told police he accidentally shot his friend. Douglas said he, Redix and another person left a high school graduation and drove to North Little Rock to take a friend home. Douglas said he was sitting in the back seat behind Redix who was driving and the friend was in the front passenger seat.
Douglas said he was in possession of Redix’s gun and was “stripping it down” when the gun accidentally went off and struck Redix in the back. Douglas got out and pulled Redix out of the vehicle before providing medical attention. Douglas said he immediately called 911 and tossed the firearm into a field nearby.
Douglas has been charged as an adult with manslaughter, a class C felony.