On Sunday, March 10, a private party of 80-100 people in Jonesboro, Arkansas turned into a disaster when a shooter opened fire, resulting in three fatalities and several injuries, according to the Jonesboro Police Department.
Responding officers arrived at a downtown area scene around 5 a.m., finding several victims of gunshots.
The incident claimed the lives of two acquaintances of the shooter, a man, Dwight Starks, 24, and a woman, Amari Giles, 20, as well as the shooter, 32-year-old Tarail Moody. Moody died from a shot to the head, but police have not said who killed him.
Additionally, another woman connected to the shooter was injured. The shooting also wounded three people without any known ties to the assailant. A fifth victim sought hospital treatment later, though their connection to the shooter remains unspecified.
The motives behind the shooting and the conditions of the hospitalized victims have not been disclosed but it is believed to be connected to a domestic dispute that carried over to the party. The Jonesboro Police continue their investigation and call for any information related to the incident.
The violence unfolded on Burke Avenue, roughly 130 miles northeast of Little Rock, the state’s capital. Law enforcement quickly secured the area, implementing traffic restrictions to facilitate emergency response and investigation.
Initial assessments suggest a domestic argument might have escalated at the party.
This shooting contributes to the national count of mass shootings, with the Gun Violence Archive reporting over 70 such incidents in the United States this year. Their criteria define a mass shooting as an event where four or more people are shot, excluding the shooter.
The Jonesboro Police Department has assured the public of no ongoing threat, indicating this was an isolated incident. Yet, the shooting’s impact is felt widely, underscoring the persistent challenge of gun violence.
As the investigation progresses, officials urge witnesses or anyone with relevant information to come forward.