An arrest has been made of four individuals in connection with the murder of an airman with the U.S. Air Force last week near Little Rock, Ark.
Senior Airman Shawn McKeough Jr., 23, attempted to stop a robbery at the Valero Big Red gas station and convenience store when he was fatally shot, and now four suspects have been arrested and charged, the Air Force Times reported.
On Monday, North Little Rock Police stated they had made the first arrest in the airman’s murder.
Drequan Robinson, 18, was arrested on charges of capital murder and aggravated robbery.
On 03/18 @ approx 5:15pm NLRPD Detectives in conjunction w/ the U.S. Marshal Eastern Arkansas Fugitive Task Force & State Police located Drequan Robinson in Little Rock. Drequan Robinson has been transported to the NLRPD Detectives Division where he is currently being interviewed pic.twitter.com/nBitvkPHC3
— North Little Rock PD (@NLRPD) March 19, 2019
On Tuesday, they had successfully apprehended the second suspect, Keith Harris Jr., 18.
Det. w/ NLRPD have arrested 18 yr old Keith Harris Jr for his role in the shooting death of Shawn Mckeough. Harris IS NOT the 2nd suspect (wearing the panda hat) that entered the Valero station. If anyone has any info as to the whereabouts / ID of 2nd suspect please contact NLRPD pic.twitter.com/kGDOyByWAO
— North Little Rock PD (@NLRPD) March 19, 2019
Police then announced the arrest of two additional suspects, 17-year-old Darrius Stewart and 16-year-old Keith Keshawn Harris, who are charged as adults.
Det. w/ NLRPD have arrested 17 yr old Darrius Stewart & 16 yr old Keith Keshawn Harris for their role in the shooting death of Shawn Mckeough. Both subjects are charged with Capitol Murder and Aggravated Robbery. They are both Juveniles but are being charged as adults. pic.twitter.com/56NlRvm9Tl
— North Little Rock PD (@NLRPD) March 20, 2019
In the incident, McKeough tackled one of the suspects to the ground. Police said that Robinson was the one that shot McKeough in the head, killing him immediately. Stewart was identified as the second armed suspect in the store, while Harris and Harris Jr. remained in the vehicle.
All four face capital murder and aggravated robbery charges.
A probable cause affidavit filed in North Little Rock District Court said two robbers entered the Valero Big Red on Friday night while waving handguns and ordering at least eight customers in the store to the ground. One of the robbers approached the counter and said: “You think this is an (expletive) game?” before demanding the register be opened, according to the Arkansas Online.
McKeough was stationed at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas as an aerial delivery operations specialist for the 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
McKeough’s girlfriend, Sarah Terrano, said they stopped at the gas station after leaving dinner with friends. Terrano stayed inside the vehicle, an Uber, and watched the suspects enter the store, then pull a gun. She knew McKeough would intervene.
Terrano said, “He would have done that anywhere or anytime. He served our country the best he could.”
Sr. Airman Shawn Mckeough was shot and killed Friday night while trying to stop a North Little Rock convenience store robbery. His girlfriend tells me: “Shawn was one of a kind, he lit up any room he walked into.” https://t.co/dJWBQx2UWR pic.twitter.com/m966A94Aj1
— Michael Aaron (@michaelfaaron) March 18, 2019
A statement was released by Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas regarding the death of McKeough. He said, “Called by duty, Shawn McKeough Jr. lost his life doing exactly what he volunteered and trained to do: protecting his fellow citizens from danger. We mourn his death and grieve with his family, yet we also celebrate his life, his courage and his service. May God welcome Shawn into His loving embrace and comfort his family.”
