Former Pine Bluff radio personality Will Jenkins was taken into police custody and was transported to Jefferson Regional Medical Center after becoming a suspect in a shooting involving his girlfriend and engaging in a standoff of almost two hours with law enforcement at his house Wednesday evening.
Jenkins, 68, is identified as a suspect in a shooting that occurred at a business at 204 S. Main St. at about 2:20 p.m., according to a Pine Bluff Police Department news release on Facebook. The business is identified as Uptown Salon.
According to police, witnesses at the scene reported Jenkins shot someone at the business and fled the scene. A woman identified as Lenora Robinson, 71, was identified as the victim and taken to Jefferson Regional.
“On last report, it did not appear as though her gunshot wound would be life-threatening,” the news release read.
Police identified Robinson as Jenkins’ long-time girlfriend. Deltaplex Radio, where Jenkins had worked, identified the victim as Jan Robinson, Jenkins’ ex-wife.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Jenkins was a part-time employee until the events of Wednesday occurred, said Greg Horne, general manager of the radio group that includes four stations. Horne declined further comment.
A be-on-the-lookout, or BOLO, bulletin was issued for Jenkins, who was said to be driving a red Dodge pickup south on Walnut Street after the reported shooting, according to police spokesman John Worthen. Police located his pickup at his residence at 4001 S. Cherry St.
“Jenkins refused to come out of the house and spoke to officers for a short time before stopping all communication,” police stated. Police established limited contact with Jenkins for about 15 to 20 minutes through a bullhorn, according to Worthen.
A standoff ensued as SWAT teams from the Pine Bluff Police Department and Jefferson County sheriff’s office tried to remove Jenkins from the home, and about 20 minutes later, canisters of suppression gas were administered into the home, Worthen said.
Police described the substance as CS gas, a type of tear gas.
“After trying to get Jenkins to come out of the residence for over two hours, SWAT entered the residence,” police stated, adding Jenkins was located inside “in a notably lethargic state.” SWAT called for an ambulance and extracted Jenkins from the residence to the ambulance not knowing the cause of his lethargic state, police added.
Jenkins’ condition was not immediately known. Police say he will face charges for first-degree domestic battery once medically cleared.
At least 13 police and sheriff’s units blocked traffic from both directions between 39th and 42nd avenues until about 4:25 p.m.
A man named Tony, who declined to give his last name, said he was coming from work on the north end of town and drove around the scene to get to his residence in the vicinity. That’s when he said he found out about the standoff.
Rosia Heath, who lives in the vicinity, said she heard sounds of tear gas near Jenkins’ residence, adding the developments were concerning.
“All I can say is, it’s very scary,” she said. “You never know from day to day what will happen. I wonder what happened to him to cause all of this.”
Police asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the PBPD at 870-541-5300 or the Detective’s Office at 870-730-2090. Anonymous tips can be made by calling 870-730-2106 or by visiting the department’s website.
