Crime
Searcy Teen Likely Paralyzed After Being Shot by Deported Felon Using Stolen Identity
SEARCY, Ark. — A 16-year-old boy, Isaiah Toledo, is likely to be paralyzed for life after being shot in the neck while driving home from a graduation party, according to his father, Antonio Toledo.
The teen was critically injured in a random shooting on May 10, 2025, which led to the arrest of Candelario Gameros-Ante, a 45-year-old man who was previously deported and re-entered the U.S. under a stolen identity.
The Searcy Police Department initially responded to what was reported as a single-vehicle accident around 11:30 p.m. on the 1000 block of West Academy.
However, the emergency caller informed dispatchers that the driver had sustained a gunshot wound to the neck.
Upon arrival, officers confirmed the teenage victim had been shot and immediately coordinated emergency medical transport.
Isaiah was first taken to Unity Health – White County Medical Center and later transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where he remains in stable but life-altering condition.
While canvassing the area and interviewing witnesses, officers recovered multiple shell casings in a nearby yard.
This led them to a residence where Gameros-Ante—originally booked under the name Edgar Gameros, 44, of Batesville—was taken into custody.
The Searcy Police Special Response Team cleared the residence, and two additional individuals were arrested on unrelated charges. Both are currently being held under detainers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
On May 12, fingerprint analysis confirmed that the suspect was not Edgar Gameros, but in fact Candelario Gameros-Ante, who had used a stolen Social Security card to fraudulently obtain an Arkansas driver’s license.
Authorities say Gameros-Ante was deported in 2017 and returned to the U.S. under false pretenses to conceal his immigration status.
During an interview with Searcy Police, Chief Steve Hernandez reported that Gameros-Ante told officers he believed members of a cartel were pursuing him.
Mistaking the teen’s slow-moving vehicle for a threat, he allegedly opened fire on Isaiah as the teen drove past his home.
Investigators have not found any evidence supporting Gameros-Ante’s paranoia or any cartel involvement.
The incident is being treated as a random act of violence.
Gameros-Ante has been charged with Terroristic Act, a Class B felony, and remains in custody at the White County Detention Center. Additional charges are possible as the investigation progresses.
Isaiah’s father, Antonio Toledo, a local business owner and contractor, says the family is preparing for the long-term impacts of the injury, including the high cost of wheelchair accessibility modifications.
He expressed gratitude for the support the family has already received and is open to accepting further assistance from the community.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Searcy Police Department or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.
Crime
Victims Identified in Deadly Robeson County Mass Shooting
Two Dead, 13 Injured in Mass Shooting at Large Party in Robeson County, North Carolina
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. — A late-night party in eastern North Carolina turned deadly early Saturday morning when gunfire erupted, leaving two people dead and 13 others injured, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Burnis Wilkins confirmed that deputies were called to the scene on Dixon Drive, just outside the town of Maxton, at approximately 3:00 a.m. following reports of a shooting at a large outdoor gathering attended by more than 150 people.
When deputies arrived, chaos had already unfolded — witnesses said over 150 individuals fled the area before law enforcement could secure the scene.
Authorities identified the deceased victims as Jessie Locklear and his son Nehemiah Locklear.
Several other victims sustained critical injuries and were transported to area hospitals for emergency treatment.
Sheriff Wilkins stated that, based on preliminary findings, the shooting appears to have been an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the wider community.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from multiple agencies, continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the violence.
Detectives are working to determine the motive and identify all parties involved.
Authorities are urging anyone with information—or anyone who attended the gathering and witnessed the incident—to contact the Robeson County Sheriff’s Investigators at 910-671-3100.
“We know there were many people present when this occurred,” Sheriff Wilkins said. “If you saw something or know something, we need you to come forward to help bring justice to the victims and their families.”