On December 7, 2025, law enforcement from the Helena-West Helena Police Department answered a call regarding a shooting victim at 138 South Baringo Street. There they found Jalexus Carter with multiple gunshot wounds in what investigators have characterized as an isolated domestic altercation.
Officers began emergency care immediately, assisted by Pafford EMS and the Helena-West Helena Fire Department, before Carter was taken to Helena Regional Medical Center. She died from her injuries that afternoon. The shooting took place between Ladino Street and West Celburne Avenue, leading to a rapid search that resulted in the detention of a male suspect. He is being held at the Phillips County Jail on charges of first-degree murder.
Jalexus Carter, 29, was a lifelong resident of the Helena-West Helena area. She worked as a dedicated home health aide for a local agency, providing care for older clients while pursuing an associate degree in nursing at Phillips Community College. Recognized for her calm and caring approach, she frequently gave her time on weekends at community health events.
Carter was a devoted mother to two young daughters. She built family traditions around Sunday gospel brunches and yearly fishing trips to the Mississippi River, creating a home filled with stories of Southern culture and active encouragement for her children’s educational goals. Her parents, both retired educators from the local school system, had taught her the importance of learning and kindness, principles that guided her career and her relationships within the neighborhood.
Her daily life combined professional dedication with personal contentment. She often began her days early with yoga by the river before her work shifts, and relaxed in the evenings with a book club that concentrated on African American literature. She enjoyed pastimes like quilting family keepsakes and cultivating a small herb garden in her backyard, frequently sharing her handmade creations at church gatherings.
The investigation remains active as detectives examine evidence collected from the scene, including spent shell casings, to reconstruct the circumstances that led to the fatal confrontation on the quiet residential street. Authorities are asking anyone with relevant information to provide tips anonymously to help advance the case. The suspect is awaiting formal arraignment in Phillips County Circuit Court.
The community of Helena-West Helena expresses its deepest sympathy to Carter’s family and friends. Her passing is felt deeply by all who knew her, leaving a void where her steady compassion and gentle strength once made a lasting difference.