The Pine Bluff Police Department is walking back its initial statement that a suspect fired at officers before being fatally shot Friday night, creating a conflict with information released by the department at the scene early Saturday morning.
On Saturday night, PBPD Public Information Officer DeShawn Bennett said the department could no longer confirm that the suspect, 23-year-old Jeremy Lawrence Jr., fired a weapon during the incident.
“In reference to the information recently put out by our agency in reference to an ‘exchange of gunfire’ between the suspect and officer, it is undetermined if the suspect fired a weapon at this time,” Bennett said. “Our agency remains transparent as this investigation unfolds.”
Lawrence was pronounced dead at Jefferson Regional Hospital after being struck multiple times by officers, according to Jefferson County Coroner Chad Kelley.
A separate statement released Saturday by the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division presented a different account and did not indicate that Lawrence fired at officers. ASP said it was asked by PBPD to investigate the shooting.
According to ASP, PBPD officers attempted a traffic stop on West 27th Avenue at about 10:30 p.m. Friday. When the vehicle stopped, a suspect with a firearm exited and fled on foot. ASP said officers fired on the suspect, who collapsed in a yard on West 28th Avenue and later died at the hospital.
Two other occupants of the vehicle were detained. No officers were injured.
ASP said Lawrence will be sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the cause and manner of death. The agency will submit its investigative file to the Jefferson County prosecutor, who will decide whether the use of deadly force was legally justified.
PBPD placed three officers on administrative leave following the shooting, a standard practice in such cases. Their names have not been released.
The Arkansas State Police will handle all future updates related to the investigation.
Deltaplex News will continue to follow developments.
Arkansas State Police News Release
PINE BLUFF, Ark. — At the request of the Pine Bluff Police Department (PBPD), the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday, November 21, 2025, and resulted in the death of a Pine Bluff man.
PBPD officers attempted a traffic stop on West 27th Avenue at about 10:30 p.m. When the vehicle stopped, a suspect with a firearm exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
During the incident, PBPD officers fired on the suspect, later identified as Jeremy Lawrence Jr., 23. Lawrence was struck and collapsed in a yard on 28th Avenue. He was transported to Jefferson Regional Medical Center for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Two other subjects in the vehicle were apprehended and detained by the PBPD.
No law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident.
The deceased will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the cause and manner of death.
ASP CID will prepare an investigative file to submit to the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office, which will determine if the use of deadly force was consistent with Arkansas law.
The investigation is ongoing.
