Crime
One Victim Killed in Conway Mass Shooting Identified as Tatayana Penister
CONWAY, AR — One of the victims fatally shot during Sunday’s mass shooting at Fifth Avenue Park has been identified as Tatayana Penister, according to officials.
The deadly incident, which unfolded during a gathering at the park, claimed two lives and left nine others wounded.
Witness accounts and emotional social media posts have begun to shed light on the chaos and heartbreak experienced by those at the scene.
Latashia Winzer, a bystander who said she was with Tatayana when the shooting occurred, shared a powerful and emotional plea online, recounting her desperate efforts to save Penister’s life.
“I wish y’all would’ve helped when I begged for it,” Winzer wrote. “I wish I didn’t get tired. I wish my arms didn’t go weak. She did not want to die—she didn’t deserve to die. I swear I wish I could’ve done more. Y’all dead wrong.”
Winzer said she performed CPR on Penister until she could no longer continue, expressing deep sorrow and frustration over what she perceived as a lack of immediate assistance from authorities.
“Police didn’t do anything but stand over us. I begged for help,” she said. “She held on for so long. I’m praying so hard for her mom. My heart hurts. No mother deserves to get a call like this.”
The shooting took place around Fifth Avenue Park in Conway on Sunday evening, where large crowds had gathered.
Police said multiple 911 calls were received as shots rang out, triggering a swift emergency response.
Video captured during the event shows people fleeing in panic as gunfire erupted.
As of Monday, the nine individuals injured in the shooting were reported to be in stable condition after being transported to nearby hospitals.
The identity of the second deceased victim has not yet been released.
Conway Police have not released information about potential suspects or a motive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Criminal Investigation Division at 501-450-6130. Callers may speak with any available detective. If the line is not answered, officials request that a message be left, and someone will return the call.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation,” the Conway Police Department stated. “We ask the public to avoid the area while our officers continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses.”
This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.