Fort Smith, Ark. – A man was taken into custody Friday in connection with a fatal early morning shooting in Fort Smith that claimed the life of a 39-year-old man.
At approximately 4:45 a.m. on July 18, Fort Smith Police responded to reports of a shooting in the 1300 block of North 38th Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim, identified as Jerry Beane, deceased at the scene. Authorities determined the incident to be a homicide.
Following the initial investigation, police identified 25-year-old Hunter Harrell of Eureka Springs as the primary suspect. With assistance from the Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Fort Smith Police obtained an arrest warrant later that morning. Harrell was apprehended by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and charged with Murder in the First Degree and Discharging a Firearm from a Vehicle.
Also arrested was 42-year-old Ashley Lensing, who was with Harrell at the time of both the shooting and his arrest. Lensing was taken into custody on a parole violation. Investigators do not believe any additional individuals were involved in the incident.
Fort Smith Police expressed gratitude to all agencies involved in the investigation, including the Carroll County and Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Offices, and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation remains active.