Pine Bluff police continue their investigation into the shooting death of a Pine Bluff man, but as of now, they have no suspects in custody. Ashton Jackson, 34, was pronounced dead on the scene by Deputy Coroner April Davis at 5:44 a.m. The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds. His body was sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office on Saturday for an autopsy.
According to a report from Officer Shamario Johnson, who was the first officer on the scene, police dispatchers initially reported gunshots around 5th Avenue and Hemlock Street. It was then reported that there was a gunshot victim at the Valero Gas Station on Blake Street. A third report said that a female had called and said that they were on the Martha Mitchell Expressway near Blake Street in a black car.
Johnson also said in his report that as he was driving west on the Expressway toward Blake Street, he saw a black Jeep stopped in the middle of the roadway with the front driver’s and passenger doors open. A female was by the vehicle screaming. As Johnson approached the rear driver’s side door, he reported seeing a man, later identified as Jackson, slumped over and not responsive. This was Pine Bluff’s sixth homicide of the year.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Detective Division at 870-730-2090 or Dispatch at 870-541-5300.