On Monday just after 2:00 p.m., the Pine Bluff community in Arkansas was shaken when 23-year-old Jurnea Stanley was found dead at a home on West 24th Street. Police were called to the 2405 block after reports of gunshots, and when officers arrived they discovered Stanley unresponsive with a serious gunshot wound to her upper body. Despite first responders’ efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Neighbors described a quiet afternoon suddenly pierced by the sound of gunfire. Friends and family later gathered near the neighborhood, struggling to grasp the loss of someone remembered as warm-hearted and full of life. Her death has left a deep ache in a community already familiar with the pain of violent crime.
Also on the scene that afternoon was 25-year-old Michael Johnson, who was questioned by detectives. After speaking with investigators, Johnson was arrested and booked into the Jefferson County Jail on charges of second-degree murder. Police have not publicly released a motive or detailed account of what led to the shooting, citing that the investigation is ongoing.
The Pine Bluff Police Department is urging anyone with information about what happened that day to contact detectives. Investigators hope community tips will help fill in the details of a case that has left many unanswered questions and hearts grieving. Confidential tips can be shared with the detective office via multiple lines set up for the public.
Family and friends have shared memories of Jurnea’s laughter, her kindness, and her bright presence. In candlelight vigils and quiet conversations with reporters, those closest to her speak not only of loss but of the way she touched the lives around her. They say her memory deserves justice and closure.
The shooting adds to ongoing conversations about public safety and gun violence in Pine Bluff, a city with crime challenges that often weigh heavily on residents’ minds. Local leaders say they are doubling down on community outreach and crime prevention efforts in the wake of the tragedy.
As detectives continue to piece together evidence, the community remains united in its grief. Jurnea Stanley’s passing serves as a somber reminder of how quickly a life can be taken, and how crucial it is for witnesses to step forward to help bring answers to a grieving family.
