Jurnea Stanley, a 23-year-old woman from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, was fatally shot on the afternoon of Monday, January 26, 2026. The incident occurred around 2:00 p.m. in the 2400 block of West 24th Street, a residential area just west of South Hazel Street, prompting a swift response from local law enforcement.
When officers from the Pine Bluff Police Department arrived at the scene, they found Stanley unresponsive with a gunshot wound to her upper body. Despite emergency efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene. The area was quickly cordoned off as investigators began collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Also present at the scene was 25-year-old Michael Johnson, who was taken into custody for questioning. After further investigation, Johnson was arrested and booked into the Jefferson County Jail on a charge of second-degree murder. Authorities have not yet released details about the motive or the nature of the relationship between Johnson and Stanley.
Stanley had just celebrated her 23rd birthday days before the shooting. Friends and family described her as a vibrant young woman with a warm personality and a promising future. Her sudden death has left loved ones reeling, struggling to comprehend the loss and searching for answers in the wake of the tragedy.
The neighborhood where the shooting occurred is known for its quiet residential character, making the violence all the more shocking to residents. Neighbors reported hearing a single gunshot before police arrived, and many have since expressed concern about safety and the need for community healing. A small memorial of flowers and candles has begun to form near the site in remembrance of Stanley.
As the investigation continues, the Pine Bluff Police Department is urging anyone with additional information to come forward. The case remains active, and authorities are working to determine the full circumstances that led to the fatal shooting. For now, the community mourns the loss of a young life taken far too soon, and the justice system begins its process to bring accountability.