During a press conference held Tuesday at the Kevin Collins Center, the Pine Bluff Police Department addressed potential policy violations related to the fatal shooting of Jeremy Lawrencen Jr. on Nov. 21, 2025. The shooting involved Officers Corey Lowery, J.L. Williams and Derek Johnson.
At the press conference, Chief Shawn Davis reviewed several department policies, stating that both the initiation and continuation of the pursuit of Lawrence were consistent with department guidelines.
Davis said that nine total shots were fired at Lawrence by Officer Lowery.
Davis continued, saying that while Policy 550 allows officers to use deadly force against an imminent threat, the key question is whether the threat remained immediate at the time the shots were fired.
He continued by saying that once Lawrence ran into the wooded area, deadly force was used again and was later deemed justified.
Davis said Officer Lowery violated Policy 185 by firing more shots than department leaders determined were necessary based on their investigation.
Davis reviewed the policy findings one final time, stating that Lowery’s actions while firing during the pursuit presented a significant safety concern. However, he emphasized that officers are trained for such situations and that the department’s policy does not prohibit it.
Officer Corey Lowery submitted his resignation from the Pine Bluff Police Department during the course of the investigation. Officers J.L. Williams and Derek Johnson remain with the department, with no policy violations found in connection with their involvement in the shooting.
