The Fort Smith Police Department issued a press release on Tuesday detailing some information on the shooting in the wee hours of New Year’s Day at a Fort Smith jazz and blues club.
According to the press release, the FSPD responded at 2:08 AM to a call directing them to the Fort Smith Jazz and Blues Grill at 522 North 10th Street in Fort Smith. Upon the arrival of the officer’s numerous vehicles were leaving the area in all directions.
Upon entering the club officers encountered an apparent crime scene which appeared to have been “cleaned-up”. Moments later, officers were notified that a local hospital that three gunshot victims had entered the emergency room. Later investigation showed all three were transported to the facility via personal vehicles.
Orlando Diggs, 43, was treated for a gunshot wound and was later transferred to a Little Rock hospital. Larry Roussell, 32, was being treated for a shot to his back and right should blade and Monigue Clark, 38, was being treated for a minor wound to her right leg attributed to a bullet fragment or a ricochet.
Per preliminary reports by the Crime Investigations unit all three victims had been dancing in the club. Rousell was near 21-year old Shaquis Smith when he got into a dispute with his wife Nickyla Rousell over “dancing with another woman”. Another patron intervened which led to another disturbance and moments later three to five shots were fired.
All three victims were interviewed and claimed they did not see the shooter. Interviews with witnesses Smith and Felicia Mitchell, 30, led to their arrest for Felony Hindering Apprehension.
While processing the scene, officers discovered a small amount of marijuana and .25 caliber handgun were found in the possession of club owner Oliver Willis. That led to an interview of Willis and seizure of those items as evidence.
Several hours later the male patron that had intervened in the Rousell disturbance contacted officers and said that Tyrone Parks Jr, 23, wanted to surrender himself on an outstanding Battery warrant involving a firearm on September 4 at the club and give a statement on the New Year’s nightclub shooting.
Later identified as the boyfriend of Shaquis Smith, Parks Jr. denied being at the club during either incident. Parks Jr. was arrested for outstanding warrants for Battery 1st Degree and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and is currently being held without bond at the Sebastian County Detention Center,
On January 3 investigators obtained a warrant for the arrest of club owner Oliver Willis on the charge of Felony Tampering with Evidence carrying a $3500 legally sufficient bond.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone having information or knowing of any suspects in the case are urged to contact the Fort Smith Police Department at 479-709 -5100 or dial 78-CRIME.
