Arron Gilliam Killed in North Little Rock Shooting at Jefferson Manor Apartments; Cecil Brooks Jr. Wanted for Capital Murder | John Ashley Drive Homicide Investigation

A quiet Monday morning at a North Little Rock apartment complex was shattered by the sound of gunfire, leaving a 29-year-old man dead and a community struggling to comprehend a senseless act of violence. The victim, Arron Gilliam, has been remembered by family and friends as a beloved son, brother, and friend whose life was tragically cut short on June 8, 2026.

The North Little Rock Police Department (NLRPD) has identified Cecil Brooks Jr. , 39, as the primary suspect in the fatal shooting. An arrest warrant has been issued charging Brooks with capital murder, one of the most serious offenses under Arkansas law. As of Tuesday evening, Brooks remained at large, and investigators are urging the public to come forward with any information regarding his whereabouts.

The shooting occurred at the Jefferson Manor Apartments, located at 2600 John Ashley Drive in North Little Rock. What began as an ordinary June morning ended in tragedy, leaving a family shattered, a neighborhood on edge, and law enforcement racing to bring a suspected killer to justice.

The Incident: A 10:28 A.M. Emergency Response

According to the North Little Rock Police Department’s official incident log, dispatchers received a 911 call at approximately 10:28 a.m. on Monday, June 8, 2026. The caller reported a shooting at the Jefferson Manor Apartments, a multi-unit residential complex situated in a working-class neighborhood of North Little Rock, just a few miles from the Arkansas River.

Officers from the NLRPD Patrol Division were dispatched immediately, arriving on the scene within minutes. Upon entering the specific apartment unit—whose exact number has not been released by investigators due to the ongoing nature of the case—officers discovered Arron Gilliam lying on the floor. He had sustained at least one gunshot wound, though authorities have not yet disclosed the precise location of the injury pending the release of the official autopsy report from the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory.

“Officers found the victim inside the apartment,” said NLRPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Brian Dedrick in a prepared statement. “Emergency medical personnel with the North Little Rock Fire Department responded and attempted life-saving measures. Unfortunately, the victim’s injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The Jefferson Manor Apartments, located on John Ashley Drive, were temporarily placed on lockdown as officers secured the area. Residents were asked to remain inside their units while detectives from the NLRPD’s Major Crimes Division processed the scene. Yellow crime scene tape cordoned off a significant portion of the complex, and forensic investigators were seen entering and exiting the apartment with evidence bags throughout the morning and early afternoon.

The Victim: Remembering Arron Gilliam, 29

While the investigation focuses on the circumstances of his death, those who knew Arron Gilliam best are choosing to remember the life he lived rather than the violence that ended it.

Born in North Little Rock in 1997, Gilliam was a lifelong resident of the central Arkansas area. Friends describe him as a warm, outgoing individual who never met a stranger. He was known for his infectious laugh, his loyalty to his friends, and his deep devotion to his family.

“Arron was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off his back,” said longtime friend Marcus Toliver, who grew up with Gilliam. “He wasn’t about drama or violence. He loved music, he loved his mama, and he loved just hanging out with his people. This doesn’t make any sense. None of it.”

Family members have begun sharing tributes on social media, though many have asked for privacy as they process the shock of his sudden death. Gilliam’s mother, in a brief phone conversation with this reporter, was too overcome with grief to speak at length. “My baby is gone,” she said before the line went silent. “Just gone.”

A cousin of Gilliam, who asked to remain anonymous, described the family’s devastation. “We got the call around 11 in the morning. Nobody expected this. He was just starting to really get his life together. He had plans. And now some coward took all of that away.”

Gilliam’s death marks the latest in a series of homicides in North Little Rock in 2026, a year that has seen fluctuating crime rates as local law enforcement works to curb gun violence. According to NLRPD statistics, the city recorded seven homicides in the first five months of 2026. Gilliam’s death is at least the eighth.

The Suspect: Cecil Brooks Jr., Wanted for Capital Murder

As the investigation unfolded at the Jefferson Manor Apartments, detectives quickly identified a suspect: Cecil Brooks Jr. , a 39-year-old man whose last known address has not been publicly disclosed. The North Little Rock Police Department obtained an arrest warrant charging Brooks with capital murder—an offense that, under Arkansas Code § 5-10-101, can be applied when a person causes the death of another under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.

Capital murder is a Class Y felony in Arkansas, the most serious classification. If convicted, Brooks faces a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or, in cases involving certain aggravating factors, the death penalty. However, Arkansas has not carried out an execution since 2017, and death penalty cases are rare.

Police have not yet released a motive for the shooting. Investigators have also not disclosed the relationship, if any, between Arron Gilliam and Cecil Brooks Jr. Were they acquaintances? Friends? Strangers? Did an argument precede the gunfire, or was the shooting unprovoked? These are questions that detectives with the NLRPD Major Crimes Division are working to answer.

“We are actively seeking Cecil Brooks Jr. ,” Sgt. Dedrick said. “We believe he has information critical to this investigation. We are asking anyone who knows his whereabouts to contact the North Little Rock Police Department immediately. Do not approach him. He is considered armed and dangerous.”

As of Tuesday evening, Brooks had not been taken into custody. Law enforcement sources indicate that he may have fled the North Little Rock area, possibly with assistance from friends or family members. The NLRPD has contacted the U.S. Marshals Service to assist in the manhunt, a common practice in capital murder cases where a suspect is considered a flight risk.

The Crime Scene: Jefferson Manor Apartments at 2600 John Ashley Drive

The Jefferson Manor Apartments at 2600 John Ashley Drive are a familiar landmark in North Little Rock. The complex consists of several two-story buildings surrounded by aging oak trees and asphalt parking lots. It is home to dozens of families, many of whom have lived there for years.

Residents of the complex told reporters that they heard what sounded like one or two loud pops around 10:30 a.m. Monday. At first, some dismissed the noise as a car backfiring or construction work. But when police cars flooded the parking lot and emergency responders arrived, the reality set in.

“I was in my kitchen making coffee, and I heard a bang,” said Theresa Holloway, a resident of Jefferson Manor for 12 years. “Then I heard a woman screaming. Not just yelling—screaming like her heart was breaking. I looked out my window and saw people running from one of the apartments. That’s when I knew something terrible had happened.”

Another resident, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, claimed to have seen a man matching Cecil Brooks Jr. ’s description leaving the area on foot shortly after the gunfire. “He wasn’t running, but he was walking fast. Head down. Didn’t look back. I didn’t think much of it until the police showed up.”

Crime scene investigators spent more than six hours inside the apartment where Gilliam was killed. They collected shell casings, photographed blood spatter patterns, and took DNA samples. Neighbors were interviewed one by one. By late afternoon, the body of Arron Gilliam was transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for an autopsy.

Legal Context: Capital Murder in Arkansas

The decision to charge Cecil Brooks Jr. with capital murder rather than a lesser offense such as first-degree murder or manslaughter signals that prosecutors believe the evidence supports the most serious possible charge.

Under Arkansas law, a person commits capital murder if, among other circumstances, they cause the death of another person intentionally while committing a felony (such as burglary or robbery), or if the murder is committed in a particularly cold, calculated, or heinous manner. Alternatively, capital murder can be charged when a person causes the death of another under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.

“It’s a very high bar,” said Little Rock defense attorney and former prosecutor Vanessa Cole, who is not involved in the case. “For the state to go capital murder rather than first-degree, they usually have to show either premeditation with aggravating factors or a complete disregard for human life—like shooting into a crowd or killing someone during another violent felony.”

Given that the shooting occurred inside an apartment, it is possible that investigators believe Brooks entered the residence with the intent to commit another crime, such as robbery, and that Gilliam was killed in the process. Alternatively, the charge may reflect a belief that the shooting was intentional and unprovoked. The NLRPD has not yet released the specific factual basis for the capital murder charge.

Community Reaction: Grief, Fear, and Calls for Justice

News of Arron Gilliam ’s death has spread rapidly through North Little Rock, particularly among the community surrounding John Ashley Drive . A makeshift memorial has already begun to form outside the Jefferson Manor Apartments, with flowers, candles, and handwritten notes left at the base of a tree near the apartment where Gilliam was killed.

“Rest easy, Arron,” read one note, written in shaky handwriting. “You didn’t deserve this.”

Another note, signed only “Your Jefferson Manor family,” said: “We are heartbroken. We will never forget you.”

Local community leaders have also spoken out. North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick issued a brief statement expressing condolences to Gilliam’s family and urging anyone with information to cooperate with law enforcement.

“Violence of any kind is unacceptable, but when a young man like Arron Gilliam loses his life in our city, it is a tragedy for all of us,” the mayor said. “We stand with his family, and we trust the North Little Rock Police Department to bring the person responsible to justice.”

The North Little Rock Police Department has also received an outpouring of tips from the public. Investigators are asking anyone who may have seen or heard something unusual around 2600 John Ashley Drive on Monday morning—particularly between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.—to come forward. Even seemingly minor details, such as a vehicle description or a person acting nervously, could prove critical.

How to Help and What Comes Next

The family of Arron Gilliam has begun making funeral arrangements, though a date and location have not yet been announced. Friends have set up a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral costs and to provide financial support to Gilliam’s immediate family during this difficult time. As of Tuesday evening, the campaign had raised over $3,000, with a goal of $15,000.

Anyone with information about the shooting or the whereabouts of Cecil Brooks Jr. is urged to contact the North Little Rock Police Department’s tip line at (501) 680-8439 or the Major Crimes Division directly at (501) 771-7149. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Central Arkansas Crime Stoppers at (501) 340-8477. A cash reward of up to $1,000 is available for information leading to an arrest.

Law enforcement officials stress that Cecil Brooks Jr. should not be approached by members of the public. He is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees him should call 911 immediately.

As the manhunt continues, the North Little Rock community is left to grapple with yet another life lost to gun violence. For those who loved Arron Gilliam , the pain is still raw. But in their grief, they have resolved to honor his memory—not with anger, but with remembrance.

“We’re going to get through this,” Marcus Toliver said. “We’re going to bury our brother, and then we’re going to make sure his name isn’t forgotten. Arron was here. He mattered. And we’re going to make sure everybody knows it.”

Conclusion: A Void Left Behind

The death of Arron Gilliam at 2600 John Ashley Drive has left a void that cannot be filled. A 29-year-old man with decades of life ahead of him is gone. A mother has lost her son. Friends have lost a confidant. And a community has lost a member whose potential will never be realized.

As the North Little Rock Police Department continues its search for Cecil Brooks Jr. , the only certainty is that justice must be served—not for revenge, but for accountability. The family of Arron Gilliam deserves answers. And the residents of Jefferson Manor Apartments deserve to feel safe in their own homes.

Until then, those who knew Gilliam best will gather, mourn, and remember. They will tell stories. They will cry. And eventually, they will begin the long, slow process of healing. But they will never forget the June morning when a knock on the door changed everything.