Inset: Latarryes Bush booking photo (via North Little Rock Police Department). Background: Intersection where shooting occurred on June 2, 2024 (via YouTube screengrab/KTHV).
A street preacher in Arkansas who was shot at an intersection he has stood at for 15 years to deliver the gospel to passersby is in recovery and the alleged shooter, a 20-year-old man from North Little Rock, has been arrested and charged with one count of criminal attempt to commit capital murder.
North Little Rock Police arrested Latarryes Bush on June 2, according to a statement posted on Facebook. Officers said they responded to the busy intersection of John F. Kennedy Blvd. and McCain Blvd. just before noon and found Reverend Larry Oneal Walker lying on the ground with at least one gunshot wound to his abdomen. Walker was transported to a local hospital. Police said witnesses to the shooting helped them with a description of the shooter and the direction he headed.
Bush was located by police that same day and arrested without incident.
“During the investigation, Mr. Bush admitted to detectives his involvement in the shooting. Additionally, detectives advised that this incident stemmed from the victim refusing to hand over a piece of his property to the suspect,” North Little Rock police said.
Walker was interviewed by local CBS affiliate KTHV just days after the shooting following his release from the hospital. He told the outlet that Bush “had a look on his face that he was sorry.”
“Like he was sorry, he was embarrassed he hated that he did that to me?” Walker said.
Left: Rev. Walker during an interview on June 4, 2024 with KTHV. Right: Walker preaching at intersection (images via YouTube screengrab/KTHV).
The preacher alleges that Bush tried to take his microphone and when he wouldn’t acquiesce, Bush opened fire.
Walker’s attitude about the incident that nearly killed him was one of forgiveness.
“It doesn’t make no difference how bad you’ve been. This young boy shot me to death and I’m going out there and I’m going to embrace him and give him $5 if he let me do it and a nice hot meal,” he told KTHV.
In addition to the single count of criminal attempt to commit capital murder, Bush is also charged with one count of aggravated robbery, one count of first-degree battery and a count of felon in possession of a firearm as well as a count of possession of a controlled substance schedule 6 (marijuana) with purpose to deliver.
Bush is being held without bond at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility. Online court records show he was arraigned in North Little Rock District Court on Tuesday and was served with a “no contact” order.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Walker’s presence at the intersection is a subject of some controversy among residents. Some find his preaching through a megaphone at a loud volume less than savory, and others find his message less than accepting. This was not the first time Walker had been fired on. In the past, the outlet reported, someone shot Walker with a BB gun but the injury was negligible.
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