Two teenagers have been arrested in connection with a weekend shooting in Pine Bluff that left a 21-year-old man injured, according to police.
The Pine Bluff Commercial, which first reported the arrests, identified one of the teens arrested — David Beasley, 18, of Pine Bluff — as a Pine Bluff High School safety responsible for helping the football team claim two consecutive state titles.
Another student-athlete, Marquie Smith, 18, of Pine Bluff has also been arrested in connection with the shooting, according to the newspaper. Smith's name was not included in police reports.
In a statement Monday afternoon, Pine Bluff School District Superintendent T.C. Wallace Jr. said the district had "recently been made aware of a community incident involving two of our students that happened off campus over the weekend."
"We are in the process of investigating the allegations and will issue an additional statement when the facts are known," Wallace said.
Police in a report that said Beasley was driving a vehicle that matched the description of one linked to the shooting. Authorities found Beasley to be in possession marijuana during a search of that vehicle, the report states.
Beasley and Smith are each being held on charges of first-degree battery and aggravated robbery after authorities responded to a shooting about 2:26 a.m. Saturday near Cedar Cabin Club, 1703 University Drive, records show.
Beasley, who was one of the leading forces behind Pine Bluff’s two consecutive Class 6A state titles in 2014 and 2015, has committed to Louisiana Tech University, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported.
Beasley and Smith were booked into the Jefferson County jail at 12:36 p.m. and 12:58 p.m. Saturday, respectively, where they remained as of Monday morning, according to an inmate roster.
A request for comment from Louisiana Tech was not immediately returned by Monday afternoon.
Check back with ArkansasOnline for updates and read Tuesday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
