Little Rock police seek public's help in solving 18th homicide of year

Little Rock police are investigating the 18th homicide of the year, but no new details or witnesses have emerged the day after the shooting in the city's southwest.

Lt. Steve McClanahan, a department spokesman, said the circumstances of 22-year-old Mikhal Bailey's death are still mostly unknown, and that while detectives have gathered evidence, police still need help from the community.

"We can use the evidence, but evidence [alone] isn't always going to solve the case," said McClanahan, a former detective.

He added that investigators will pursue all tips, saying people who have information can submit it anonymously. They didn't have to witness the crime to be helpful, McClanahan said.

According to the report, police responded to the shooting at 12:17 a.m. Monday and found Bailey lying in a ditch, dead from a gunshot wound. A woman near the scene told police she didn't see anything but heard around 20 shots from what she thought were three different guns.

A Yamaha motorcycle was found near Bailey's body, and police said the bike was stolen in February.

McClanahan said the stolen motorcycle could indicate another criminal element in the slaying.

The homicide's timing and location — late at night in a high-crime area — has made it hard to find answers, McClanahan said. "It will be a work in progress to solve this one."

Upcoming Events