Police are investigating a robbery and shooting outside of the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas Monday night that sent one of the victims to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Little Rock Police told THV 11 a 19-year-old man and his cousin arranged to meet someone in the visitor’s parking lot of the presidential library Monday evening to sell a pair of blue jeans when they were met with three black men who robbed them at gunpoint.
The shooting happened on the visitor parking lot. One victim shot in the leg with non life threatening injuries. pic.twitter.com/48YAB0HuhR
— Little Rock Police (@LRpolice) November 1, 2016
“Motive appears to be a robbery. Victim was selling blue jeans when shot,” Little Rock Police posted to Twitter at 7:37 p.m. “Incident not at all related to the upcoming presidential election.”
“The shooting happened on the visitor parking lot,” Little Rock Police posted in an update about two and a half hours later. “One victim shot in the leg with non life threatening injuries.”
Police later identified the victim as Jarell Johnson, 19, who was accompanying a 16-year-old to sell five pairs of True Religion and Robbins brand jeans. The teens told police the suspects drove up in a four-door sedan, KATV reports.
“When they gave the suspects the jeans, one of them said, ‘you lose these,’ then fired a shot at Johnson as they drove away,” according to the news site.
The 16-year-old drove Johnson to the hospital for the gunshot to his left leg. The victims also identified one of the suspects as Typaris Johnson, though police have not located him, KATV reports.
The presidential center was closed at the time of the incident, according to Fox News.
Locals didn’t seem the least bit surprised to learn someone was shot in a robbery in Little Rock on Halloween.
“Oh another shooting in Little Rock, I’m shocked! Not!” Ashley Ellis posted to THV11’s Facebook page. “What’s new? Doesn’t matter what day or time it is, there is always one stupid person in the crowd.”
“Makes one glad they stayed home,” Melody Fuller added.
“You have to be so careful now,” Linda Metcalf posted to KATV’s Facebook page. “So many scum, robberies and shootings. You can’t trust people now. Best to go to a store to buy blue jeans, this was a robbery and shooting planned out.”
“People need to stop being stupid and use their brains. Don’t meet in parking lots meet at better locations or the police parking lots,” Rhonda Triplett advised. “I don’t wish anything bad on anyone but you just cannot trust people anymore!”
Other seemed skeptical that the shooting was really about blue jeans.
“Men selling jeans after dark?” Joan Traywick questioned. “I’m not buying it.”
“They are saying they were selling blue jeans!” Mike Shock posted with three crying emojis. “Surely to God people know better!”
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