PINE BLUFF -- While the family of a slain University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff student are desperate for justice, Pine Bluff police say they have few clues in the Sept. 23 home invasion and killing.
Police said 21-year-old Keith Wilbert Jr. was gunned down about 2 a.m., after three armed men burst through the door of his home at 4302 Boone St. in Pine Bluff.
Four other residents of the home, all students at UAPB, were in the house at the time but were not injured, according to police.
A police report says the attackers were black men who had bandannas covering their faces and wore hooded sweatshirts. They demanded money from everyone inside the home, then shot Wilbert before running away in an unknown direction, the report said.
Police said they found a .40-caliber shell casing on a television stand inside the house. They released no other details about the case, citing the ongoing investigation.
A reward is now being offered for information in hopes that it will provide credible leads.
As authorities continue their search for clues, those who knew and loved Wilbert continue to grieve for him.
Wilbert, who was from the Little Rock area, was a junior at UAPB majoring in agriculture business. He was to graduate from UAPB next spring.
Tracy Dunbar, an associate professor at UAPB's Department of Agriculture who served as Wilbert's university adviser, said her heart "goes out to" Wilbert's family. She said the man was very polite and had a humorous disposition.
At a vigil held shortly after Wilbert's death, Akeem Davis -- who was Wilbert's roommate and was in the house at the time of the invasion -- called the slain man his best friend.
"We did everything together," Davis said at the vigil. "I feel like God shouldn't have taken him away from us."
Wilbert's uncle, Derrick Wilbert, is the family spokesman and presided over his nephew's funeral. He said the family is holding strong through prayer and love.
"We just want justice for Keith," Derrick Wilbert said. "We can't imagine who would want to do this to such a good young man. He was so close to graduating and a great life ahead. It just breaks all of our hearts. And all we can do now is pray that arrests will soon be made."
Kenya Wilbert, Keith Wilbert's stepmother, said she was thankful for those "spreading the word about this case," adding that "we are trying to heal right now. A big part of that will be finding the people who did this to Keith."
Keith Wilbert's death is also being mourned around Pine Bluff. Some are fearful because no one has been arrested.
Pine Bluff resident Joseph Hooper said he went out and bought a gun after the killing and that he sleeps with it by his bed. He said he is also taking classes on how to use it.
"I just pray I never have to," Hooper said, referring to using the gun. "Just thinking about that poor boy and how he died is difficult. My heart goes out to his family. I am not as afraid of something like that happening to me because I will be prepared now for it."
Rita Farley, who lives about a mile away from where Wilbert was gunned down, said she hasn't slept well since the killing.
"How can any of us rest easy?" she said. "All we can do is lock our doors and pray."
State Desk on 10/19/2015