Bearden man wanted for shooting arrested after leading authorities in high-speed chase

A Bearden man wanted in connection with a shooting in Pine Bluff was apprehended Tuesday following a high-speed chase in Jefferson County, Arkansas State Police said in a press release.

Around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the ASP was requested by the U.S. Marshals Service to assist in locating a shooting suspect who had fled on foot near Stagecoach Road and Interstate 530 in Jefferson County. Additional support was provided by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), the Arkansas Department of Corrections K‑9 Unit, and the Pine Bluff Police Department (PBPD).

The suspect, Rickey Lee Ray, 35, of Bearden, was wanted in connection with a shooting that occurred April 17 in the 2100 block of West 30th Avenue in Pine Bluff.

ASP Troopers located a vehicle associated with Ray near Dollarway Road and School Street. When Troopers attempted a traffic stop, the driver refused to comply and accelerated, initiating a high‑speed pursuit through business and residential areas. The fleeing vehicle reached speeds in excess of 100 mph along 2nd Avenue.

At the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Walnut Street, the suspect vehicle collided with another passenger car, causing the suspect’s vehicle to overturn, catch fire, and come to rest on its roof. ASP Troopers extinguished the fire and assisted deputies from JCSO and PBPD officers in removing both occupants from the vehicle and took them into custody. Both individuals were transported to Jefferson Regional Medical Center for evaluation.

The passenger was identified as Rickey Lee Ray, the shooting suspect sought by the U.S. Marshals Service. After being medically cleared, Ray was transported to the Jefferson County Detention Center, where he was booked on charges of First Degree Battery and Possession of a Firearm by Certain Persons.

The driver of the suspect vehicle, Hunter White, 27, faces multiple charges, including Felony Fleeing in a Motor Vehicle, Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana, several traffic violations, and outstanding felony warrants.

The occupants of the vehicle that was struck did not sustain any injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.


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