PINE BLUFF -- The Jefferson County prosecuting attorney has asked the Arkansas State Police to help investigate the 2015 shooting death of a University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff student.
Keith Wilbert Jr., 21, of Little Rock was killed Sept. 23, 2015, when three men broke into his off-campus apartment in southwest Pine Bluff about 2:30 a.m. and shot him, according to the Pine Bluff Police Department.
Wilbert shared the home with four other UAPB students, all of whom were in the home at the time of the shooting, according to police. Police arrested a Pine Bluff man in January in connection with the shooting but dropped the charge later.
Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Hunter said Wednesday in a news release that he has asked special agents with the state police's Criminal Investigation Division to review the Pine Bluff Police Department's investigative file on the case and assist local police in their investigation.
Hunter said he hopes Wednesday's news release generates new leads in a case that has grown cold. Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact state police at (501) 618-8100.
"I believe someone knows more about what happened that night," Hunter said in the release.
When reached by telephone Wednesday, Hunter said the Pine Bluff Police Department would remain the lead agency in the investigation and that his request for state police involvement was not meant to diminish the work Pine Bluff police have done.
Pine Bluff police arrested 19-year-old Harold Magee on Jan. 20. in connection with the shooting, but the capital-murder charge was dropped Jan. 25 after a judge in Jefferson County District Court found that there was no probable cause to hold Magee.
Wilbert's father, Keith Wilbert Sr. of Little Rock, said Wednesday that his family has been disappointed with the Pine Bluff Police Department's investigation and hasn't heard anything from the department since the charge against Magee was dropped.
Wilbert said his family contacted state police in July to see if they would get involved with the case, and he said he was encouraged by Hunter's request.
"We just couldn't get anywhere with the Pine Bluff Police Department," Wilbert said. "When one organization is not doing enough, another organization has to step up.
"My family is overjoyed [Hunter] and the state police put out a press release and have taken the initiative to pursue this case."
Pine Bluff Police Chief Jeff Hubanks said his department welcomes assistance from the state police.
According to a police report, the intruders were black, wore hooded sweatshirts and covered their faces with bandannas. They demanded money from everyone in the home, then shot Wilbert Jr. before fleeing in an unknown direction.
Keith Wilbert Sr. said it doesn't make sense to him that none of the other men in the house saw or heard anything that could help police find his son's killer.
"It is overwhelming and impossible to believe," he said.
The family is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for the death of Keith Wilbert Jr. Messages can be left on a tip line established by the family at (501) 398-0951, or the Central Arkansas Crime Stoppers tip line at (501) 340-8477.
Keith Wilbert Sr. said his son, the fifth of nine children, was majoring in agriculture and was scheduled to graduate in May 2016. He said his son wanted to work for the Food and Drug Administration or follow in his father's footsteps and join the Navy.
"I fought and served my country in Desert Storm and Desert Shield, and here my son dies in Pine Bluff, Ark.," Wilbert said. "Here is a well-mannered man actively pursuing his education, and some thug comes to kick in his door and shoots him.
"It is just heartbreaking."
State Desk on 09/22/2016