70th Homicide This Year Brings Little Rock to 1993 Record High

A shooting early Sunday morning marked the 70th homicide this year, matching the city’s record high.

The shooting claimed the life of David Royal, 34, of Jacksonville, the Little Rock Police Department said.

At 2:02 a.m., officers responded to the shooting at 6 York Drive, finding Royal suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

Royal succumbed to his injuries and died on scene.

Avreyon Carter, 40, of Little Rock, has been arrested in relation to Royal’s death, according to the LRPD.

Carter has been charged with First Degree Murder.

This being the 70th homicide in 2022, Little Rock has reached the record high set in 1993, when the city was mired in gang violence.

Homicides in Little Rock have increased steadily in the last five years, from a high of 42 in 2018.

With homicides averaging 6.7 per month this year, it is likely that 2022 will set a new record high for homicides in Little Rock.

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