PHOTOS, VIDEO: Day care worker killed, 2 hurt in 2 separate drive-by shootings, Little Rock police say

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BENJAMIN KRAIN --4/27/17--
A child is taken to her mother as she is moved from an in-home day care in the 1800 block of Park Lane in Little Rock, where the homeowner was killed in a drive-by shooting Thursday. No children were hurt.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BENJAMIN KRAIN --4/27/17-- A child is taken to her mother as she is moved from an in-home day care in the 1800 block of Park Lane in Little Rock, where the homeowner was killed in a drive-by shooting Thursday. No children were hurt.

A day care worker was fatally struck with a stray bullet in one of two drive-by shootings Thursday afternoon in Little Rock, police said.

The fatal shooting, which happened within about 20 minutes of another shooting nearly 2 miles to its south and east, was reported at 2:50 p.m. on Park Lane, police spokesman Lt. Steve McClanahan said.

When officers arrived at 1805 Park Lane, they found 60-year-old caregiver Shirley Jackson shot inside the in-home day care, McClanahan told reporters at the scene.

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Photos by Brandon Riddle

Jackson, who lived at the home, was transported to a local hospital, where she later died, police said.

Nine young children believed to be under the age of 6 and three adults, including Jackson, were inside at the time of the shooting, according to authorities.

McClanahan said the children were removed and returned to their parents shortly after the shooting.

A second victim linked to that shooting, Deshuan Rushing, was located two houses south at 1901 Park Lane and is believed to have been the initial target, the spokesman said.

Rushing, who is in his early 20s, was shot in the upper leg and taken to a hospital for injuries not believed to be life-threatening, police said.

About 20 minutes earlier Thursday, officers were called to another drive-by shooting near the intersection of 24th and Marshall streets.

The victim of that shooting, 21-year-old Keshawn McElrath,* was transported to a local hospital after being shot in the shoulder, said police spokesman Officer Steve Moore. He is expected to be fine.

It was not immediately clear whether McEllan was shot outside or at another location.

More than 35 shell casings were discovered and marked by detectives at the intersection.

As of Thursday evening, police did not know whether the two shootings were linked.

McClanahan, referencing a recent increase in violent crime in Little Rock, said Thursday’s shootings are a reminder that the community must stay vigilant and proactive.

“The fact is that these homicides in our city do affect a lot of people,” McClanahan said. “People are losing friends and losing loved ones that have nothing to do with these crimes that are going on in our city.”

In a statement, the Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police responded to the recent shootings.

“Over 70 officers down, outdated equipment and no plan to retain current senior officers or detectives,” the organization said. “Don’t believe their hype… When is enough, enough?”

Additional information regarding the shootings, including a description of the shooters, was not immediately available.

Anyone with information regarding recent shootings in Arkansas’ capital city is asked to call Little Rock police at (501) 371-4600.

Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

*CORRECTION: Keshawn McElrath was injured in a Little Rock shooting Thursday. His name was misspelled in a previous version of this story because of incorrect information from police.

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