Pine Bluff police say they are agressively investigating those who are manufacturing and distributing a drug they believe was likely involved in Friday night’s deadly shooting.
Department spokesman Lt. Bob Rawlinson said the results of a toxicology report have yet to come in, but that the actions of Courtney Lewis, 26, on Friday exhibited all the hallmarks associated with a drug known as “wet,” which is a combination of cocaine and PCP that is smoked.
Those who have recently smoked wet can demonstrate massive strength and be overly agressive, violent and oblivious to pain.
“Courtney Lewis’ blitz-type attacks have all the earmarks of a drug-induced behavior attributed to the smoking of cocaine and PCP,” Rawlinson said in a press release.
Lewis allegedly fatally shot Kenneth Davis, 46, and injured three other people, who have not been identified by police. Lewis wrecked two cars, allegedly fought violently with and breifly escaped from police and had to be physically subdued after he did not react to a Taser stun gun.
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Rawlinson said that wet has been directly linked to several homicides and violent crimes in the past few years.
“The Pine Bluff Police Department wants all citizens to be aware that this type of problem exists and to reassure the them that our Vice and Narcotics Unit is aggressively seeking out and identifying those responsible for the manufacture, distribution and the use of ‘wet,’” Rawlinson said.
Anyone with information about the manufactor or sale of wet should contact the Pine Bluff Police Department at 543-5119 or 730-2090. A reward may be available, Rawlinson said.
Police were called to the area of University Drive, West Pullen Avenue and Martha Mitchell Expressway at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Rawlinson said the preliminary investigation indicated that Lewis had attempted to rob a man who was in the car with him. The robbery was unsuccessful, and Lewis allegedly shot the victim, a 28-year-old black male, in the arm.
Lewis then attempted to leave the scene in the vehicle but crashed it, Rawlinson said.
The suspect then attempted to carjack a vehicle with two women and four children inside, Rawlinson said. When the carjacking was unsuccessful, Lewis allegedly shot at the vehicle, striking one of the women in the left hand and the other woman in the right leg. None of the children — ages 4, 6, 9 and 13 — were injured.
Lewis then went over to Davis in a nearby parked vehicle, allegedly shooting him and stealing the vehicle. Lewis wrecked that vehicle and fled on foot.
A police officer and sheriff’s deputy chased Lewis into a large ravine behind the EASI ambulance service building at Martha Mitchell and University Drive. A struggle followed, Rawlinson said, in which Lewis attempted to put one of the officers’ head under water. They attempted to use a Tazer on Lewis, but it was unsuccesful.
Other officers arrived to provide backup, and Lewis was taken into custody. A discarded weapon police believe was used in the shootings was fund in the ravine.
Lewis was taken to JRMC for treatment, where he briefly escaped from the officers guarding him. Rawlinson said that Lewis was located on the hospital grounds and taken into custody without further incident or further injuries to other people.
Lewis was booked into the adult detention center and is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Monday in District Court for a probable cause hearing.
Rawlinson said Lewis will face 16 felony charges, including one count of captial murder, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, three counts of first-degree battery and seven counts of committing a terroistic act. Eight of the charges are class-Y felonies and can carry the death penalty. Rawlinson said additional charges will be forthcoming.
The slaying was the 19th of the year in Jefferson County and the 17th inside the Pine Bluff city limits.