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4 suspects charged with murder of US Airman who tried to stop robbery

2 armed subjects entered the Valero Big Red gas station in North Little Rock, Ark. and fatally shot a US Air Force Airman during the robbery. (North Little Rock PD/Twitter)
March 21, 2019

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 Tuesday, they had successfully apprehended the second suspect, Keith Harris Jr., 18.

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.

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.”

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.”