The Pine Bluff Police Department said that all four people involved in the parking lot incident on West 16th Avenue and South Cherry Street are likely to survive their injuries. The police have a suspect in custody with the weapon, but they say they do not think he or she committed the shooting.
On Friday night in Pine Bluff, three teenage guys and a 77-year-old woman were shot at the Stop and Shop at the corner of West 16th Avenue and South Cherry Street, according to police. Pine Bluff Police Serjeant DeShawn Bennett stated that gunfire was heard coming from the direction of a barbershop next to Stop and Shop at 6:49 p.m. on Friday. There is no known explanation for why the shooting occurred.
Bennett added that as of Friday night, neither the shooter nor his identification had been identified. However, police reported detaining a youngster, 15, who was in the same room as the shooter. A 15-year-old took the gun inside the barbershop before another man snatched it, clashed with a group of individuals outside, and fired shots in the direction of a nearby convenience store.
Pine Bluff Police Department – Shooting – On August 11, 2023, at around 6:49 P.M., Officers responded to 1100 W. 16th Avenue (Stop & Shop), about multiple people being shot. Officers arrived on scene and located multiple spent shell casings on the ground in front of a barbershop (1108 W. 16th Avenue). Witnesses stated the shooter, along with another person was inside the barbershop when they saw someone outside they knew.
Witnesses stated one of the males went outside then came back inside the barbershop with a gun. Witnesses stated the other male grabbed the gun then he went outside and started shooting east towards the Stop and Shop. Numerous vehicles were struck during this shooting. There was a total of 4 people shot during this incident which include:
Bennett added that as of Friday night, neither the shooter nor his identification had been identified. However, police reported detaining a youngster, 15, who was in the same room as the shooter. A 15-year-old took the gun inside the barbershop before another man snatched it, clashed with a group of individuals outside, and fired shots in the direction of a nearby convenience store.
Pine Bluff Police Department – Shooting – On August 11, 2023, at around 6:49 P.M., Officers responded to 1100 W. 16th Avenue (Stop & Shop), about multiple people being shot. Officers arrived on scene and located multiple spent shell casings on the ground in front of a barbershop (1108 W. 16th Avenue). Witnesses stated the shooter, along with another person was inside the barbershop when they saw someone outside they knew.
- A 77-year-old black female (stable but critical condition)
- A 19-year-old black male (stable but critical condition)
- A 18-year-old black male (stable but critical condition)
- A 16-year-old black male (stable condition)
The motive for this shooting is undetermined at this time. While on scene, detectives detained a 15-year-old black male who was later arrested and booked in at the Jack Jones Juvenile Detention Center on 4-counts of Battery in the First Degree, 2-counts of committing a Terroristic Act, 1-count of being a Minor in Possession of a Firearm, and 1-count of Tampering with Evidence.
Detectives are asking the public for assistance in locating the shooter, who they have identified as 20-year-old Joseph Westmoreland. Westmoreland is a black male, 6’0” in height, brown eyes, dark complexion, and a medium build. Westmoreland should be considered ARMED and DANGEROUS
Attached is a photo of Joseph Westmoreland.
Westmoreland is wanted for 4 counts of Battery in the First Degree and 2 counts of committing a Terroristic Act.Anyone with information about the location of Joseph Westmoreland is asked to call the Detective Office Tip Line at 870-730-2106, the Detective Office at 870-730-2090 and ask for Detective Corey Wilfong or the Dispatch Center at 870-541-5300.
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