Little Rock homicide victim's girlfriend says gun violence needs to stop

Little Rock Police identified the victim of the 36th and Barrow homicide. Trammell Shelton, 26, was killed after being rushed to the hospital Tuesday night.

A bouquet of birthday balloons stands in a memorial at the Express Liquor store in Little Rock where the shooting took place. Shintasia Moore, Shelton’s girlfriend, came to pay her respects Thursday afternoon.

“I was just in shock and I just instantly, my heart just crumbled,” Moore said. “Trammell Shelton. That was my friend. That was my lover. That was my laughing partner.”

Moore said that Shelton was throwing a BBQ for his 26th birthday on Tuesday night. She was on the way to meet him when he went to get more party supplies and never came back.

Little Rock Police say three people were injured and Shelton died at the hospital.

Moore said she believes his death has to do with social media. She said Shelton wasn’t carrying a gun because he was on probation and that wasn’t allowed. She said he had spent some time behind bars but was committed to doing better and being a good member of the community.

“I know he was not perfect, nobody’s perfect, but I think that’s the closest I’ve come to perfect for me,” Moore said.

Moore said the violence has been happening in Little Rock since the 1990s and she would like to see better for her children.

Police say they are actively looking through surveillance video and investigating leads.

“Just like yesterday, me and my baby were sitting on the bed. She was in her room and all we heard was boom, boom, boom, boom, in the back of my house,” Lajuanda Sawyer said.

Sawyer is currently staying in Little Rock for an extended time for travel nursing and says at this point the shootings don’t even surprise her.

“I’m from Memphis. I’m so used to it. Arkansas is no different than Memphis with these guns,” Sawyer said.

Sawyer said she hopes something can be done to prevent young people from getting ahold of guns in the first place.

“I don’t know what to say about these young folks. This new millennium is crazy. Guns resorted to everything," Sawyer said. "You can’t even stand outside and look at a person (without them saying) why are you looking at me like that?”

Most community members say they’re concerned with gun violence and would prefer people put the guns down and handle arguments without them.

KATV will update this story with new information from Little Rock Police on this case.