Arkansas

Mississippi man arrested in Jonesboro murder appears in court

Published

4 years ago

April 26, 2021

By MDMH Staff

JONESBORO, Ark. – A Mississippi man accused of a Jonesboro murder appeared in court Monday.

A judge issued a $2 million cash-only bond for Zarkeem Jefferson, 25, of Columbia, Miss.

He faces a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of Robert Hayes, 21, at an apartment complex in the 300 block of North Caraway Road after 11 p.m. on Friday, April 23.

A Jonesboro police incident report notes someone called 911, saying Jefferson had shot someone.

Once officers arrived, they learned Jefferson had left the scene.

Police located Jefferson at about 2:40 a.m. Saturday and took him into custody.

“Upon their arrival, police located a male victim that had been shot, and life-saving measures were administered. The suspect had fled the scene upon their arrival. The victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at a local hospital,” Jonesboro police said. “Through the investigation, leads were followed, and interviews were conducted and continue to be done. At approximately 0240, the suspect was located and was taken into custody without incident.”

Neighbor Gwen Taylor says she heard arguing and then gunshots at one of the apartments underneath her after 11 Friday night.

Mississippi man arrested in Jonesboro murder

“I heard gunshots. It goes ‘duh duh duh duh’ six times, and we were in our apartment. I heard screaming, and I heard a lot of crying. I have been here 19 years, and this is the first time something like this has ever happened, so it was kind of a shock to me,” said Taylor.

Taylor says she still feels safe at her complex and hopes nothing like this happens again.