In the quiet hours shortly after midnight on Sunday, the town of Marianna, Arkansas was shaken when gunfire erupted in a convenience-store parking lot near the corner of Alabama and Chestnut Streets. The call came in at approximately 12:44 a.m., as multiple 911 calls flooded in reporting a shooting.
When officers with the Arkansas State Police (ASP) arrived within minutes, they discovered two men suffering from gunshot wounds in the lot. One was identified as 20-year-old Ethan Martin of Marianna. He was pronounced dead by the Lee County coroner while being transported to a medical facility. The second victim — a 27-year-old man also from Marianna — was rushed to Regional One Health in Memphis and is reported to have non-life-threatening injuries.
According to ASP, the department’s Criminal Investigation Division has been called in to take over the case at the request of the local Marianna Police Department. Investigators are currently gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing camera footage from nearby businesses in hopes of identifying any vehicles or persons who may have fled the scene.
The body of Ethan Martin has been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for autopsy, which will determine the exact cause and manner of death. Police officials emphasize that while the investigation is ongoing, this appears to be an isolated incident and there is no known risk to the general public at this time.
In a small, tight-knit community like Marianna, where violent crime is uncommon, the shooting has deeply unsettled residents. Many have expressed sympathy for Martin’s family, while others are urging anyone with information — even seemingly small details — to come forward to law enforcement. Local leaders, echoing the sentiment, are calling for cooperation and calm as the investigation continues.
In response to the tragedy, police patrols in the area have been slightly increased as a precautionary measure. Though authorities say there’s no reason for alarm, residents say the early-morning violence has raised concerns about community safety and sparked conversations about what might have led to such an event.
As the investigation moves forward, all eyes are now on what prompted the shooting, whether the victims knew the shooter, and if more than one person was involved. The promise from law enforcement is clear: a thorough, transparent pursuit of answers so that those responsible are held accountable and the community can begin to heal.