Rapper Jerome “Hard Head” Caldwell was shot & killed during an altercation that did not involve him. Based on all account, Hard Head was an innocent bystander.
R.I.P. Hard Head. Our thoughts & prayers are with his friends & family at this most difficult time.
From ArkansasMatters.com:
An innocent bystander was killed an another injured after an early morning shooting outside a Clark County restaurant. Now authorities are on the hunt for the person who pulled the trigger.
Arkadelphia Police are now looking for 21-year-old, Jarvis Purifoy, who they say shot and killed a man during a fight outside a downtown Arkadelphia business.
People in town now worry for their safety saying whether this happens all the time or not, one shooting is too much for a place they once considered safe.
“There were people running everywhere,” explained Conor Herget.
Herget happened to drive by when he says people scattered through the streets of downtown Arkadelphia shortly after he says shots were fired.
“Wild,” he described. “I didn’t really see that coming especially in a small town like Arkadelphia.”
When Purifoy shot, he missed his apparent target, hitting 25-year-old, Jerome Caldwell in the back.
“One of the guys had the victim on his shoulder,” said Lee Loy.
Loy got his hands on surveillance video he says captures the images of Caldwell being carried away.
The Clark County Coroner says friends took him to the hospital where he died just over an hour later.
“Crazy,” Loy said. “Small town like this … you know this don’t happen here but it’s happening more and more.”
Now Loy worries for the safety of his four children.
He says they often went to the restaurant which he says rented their space out to the group hosting the party that led to the fight.
“For this to happen there she (Loy’s daughter) said she’ll never go back to Dino’s.”
The talk around town is this fight started over a cross town feud between Purifoy and people from Gurdon. Purifoy was apparently a star quarterback for Arkadelphia High about 3 years ago.
