The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department wants our community to feel safe and free from violence in our streets. In the last few years, the communities on both sides of our state line have suffered a loss to gun violence and senseless rivalries that have torn our city apart and taken young lives.
A community is only whole when it lives together, works together, and overcomes obstacles together.
“It takes a village to raise a child” is an African proverb that means an entire community of people must interact with children for those children to grow in a safe and healthy environment.
Texarkana Police is asking for help in our neighborhoods to help deter what has been happening in our community. In the past year, juvenile crime has become increasingly violent, with shootings on both sides of the state line to the other and back and forth. Information that law enforcement has received indicates some of the recent shooting situations, where more than sixty rounds have been fired from handguns and rifles at homes and vehicles, were done by juveniles. No arrests have been made so far because none of the suspects have been identified, according to a press release.
For example, on December 26, 2022, at approximately 1:40 a.m., night shift officers responded to Vernal and Hayes Streets because of shots being fired and they discovered over sixty spent shell casings in the street when they arrived. No one was injured in the gunfire. This is one incident currently under investigation by the police department.
black pistol and cartridges on a black wooden table
Why are these incidents happening on our streets and why are these juvenile offenders driving around with these guns? Do the parents know about the weapons and where these kids are at 1:40 a.m.?
How can we stop this violence before another person is seriously hurt or killed due to this senseless action?
Close-up of gun and handcuffs with evidence bag beside them
The police department is asking for your help in identifying any offenders in these violent acts and the location of any weapons that could be involved in these acts. Anyone with any information about these incidents or any other incidents involving violence and juveniles please contact Det. Corvette Phillips at 903-798-3154 with the department’s criminal investigation division or email: Corvette.Phillips@txkusa.org
