A North Little Rock neighborhood is out of control, at least that's what some people are saying after an overnight shooting in the Rose City area that left one man dead. But North Little Rock police believe it's a case of self-defense.
Mickie Brown likes her neighborhood, one that is usually quiet. But the silence broken by gunfire early Thursday morning.
"Shocked I thought I slept through this. I live across the street, one of the bullets could have ricocheted and hit me," says Brown.
North Little Rock police say someone was trying to break into a car parked in front of a house. When the homeowner came out, he was armed and approached the man. The suspect fired at him and the homeowner shot back.
Twenty one year old Bernard Robinson died on the steps of a vacant home a block away.
"They need more patrol, watch more and cut down on the gang bangers," says Brown.
Brown says this part of Rose City isn't a bad area they just need a little help. "It's a proud neighborhood, I've been here seven years and never had a problem. The police need to step up and get some of the bad elements out of the neighborhood," says Brown.
The homicide is too much for Akika Perkins and her small children. "They aren't going to grow up around here, not if this is going to happen," says Perkins.
It's the fifth homicide for the city, but it's the first for this east-end neighborhood. Brown says it's a preventable tragedy. "Here we sit today with a 22 year old who didn't get to finish his life out," says Brown.
North Little Rock detectives are not done in this case, investigating whether what happened was a justified shooting or a crime. Meanwhile, those living in the area want something to change. Investigators are looking at the shooting as being justified since the suspect was invading the homeowner’s property. The last decision will come from the prosecutor's office on whether to file charges. The homeowner was questioned and released.
