Press Release, Corporal Kelly Pilgreen
March 18, 2021

On Wednesday, March 17, 2021, officers responded to a shooting in the 1000 block of Locust Street. The victim, Kayla Keatts of Texarkana, was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Shortly before 8:00 pm last night, Ms. Keatts succumbed to her injuries and passed away.

The suspect, 18-year-old Jason Stewart Jr of Texarkana, AR, turned himself in to detectives late yesterday afternoon. Stewart was booked into jail for Domestic Battery in the First Degree. This afternoon, Stewart’s charges were upgraded to Murder in the First Degree.

The incident is still under investigation. If anyone has information related to this crime, please contact the Criminal Investigation Division at (903)-798-3154 or Crime Stoppers at 903-793-STOP (903-793-7867