Teen killed at Conway bus stop linked to 2024 homicide. Was it retaliation? What we know
Two deadly shootings in Conway this year appear to be connected.
This is contrary to an earlier report by police that the shooting and killing of an 18-year-old at a school bus stop in February and a deadly shooting in January on Hemingway Street appeared to be isolated incidents.
The shootings happened just three weeks apart.
Ja’Mir Johnson, 18, was shot Feb. 1 at the intersection of Rufus Street and 8th Avenue where he died on the scene, according to The Sun News. Three weeks prior, on Jan. 10, Ty’ree Graham, 25, was shot near Hemingway Street, The Sun News reported. He died at the hospital on Jan. 11.
Attempts to reach family members of both men were not successful.
Conway Police Chief Dale Long said at a Feb. 9 press conference that he did not believe the two homicides were connected, but it was being investigated. Arrest warrants released on Tuesday show they were linked.
Johnson allegedly conspired with Justice Bright, 22, to rob and kill Graham, according to arrest warrants. Johnson and Bright’s relationship is unknown, said Conway Police spokesperson June Wood on Wednesday.
Graham was shot less than a mile from where Johnson died.
When asked Wednesday if Johnson’s death was in retaliation to Graham’s, Wood said it is under investigation. However, Long said in February that there was not “conclusive evidence” to say it’s a retaliation.
Bright was arrested March 24 for charges related to Graham’s death. Arrest warrants state Bright and Johnson armed themselves with a hand gun, then robbed and shot Graham. Long said the robbery occurred in a car during the February press conference.
Long said he believes Graham was sought out because there was another person in the car but only Graham was shot. Long also said he believes Johnson was targeted in the shooting given that no one else was shot.
When asked if Johnson’s death was gang related at the press conference, Long said he does not know and that it is very difficult to prove if someone is in a gang.
“You do not get a gang card, so trying to say a person is in a gang is not as simple as ‘Let me see your driver’s license and now let me see your gang ID,’” Dale said in February. “We have not had anybody who came up and say ‘This person is in a gang, this person is in a rival gang.’”
It is not clear if Johnson, Bright or Graham were in a gang or had gang relations.
No one has been arrested in Johnson’s death.
On Wednesday, Conway Police said they located the car involved in Johnson’s killing and it is being processed for evidence.
Johnson was a senior at Carolina Forest High School and an aspiring musician, according to his obituary.
