Jonesboro Man Arrested in State Street Homicide; Prior Shooting Cases Previously Dismissed

JONESBORO — A 29-year-old Jonesboro man has been arrested in connection with a deadly early morning shooting on State Street, according to the Jonesboro Police Department. Court records show this is the second fatal shooting for which he has been arrested in Jonesboro.

Mario Jashon Stafford was arrested on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated residential burglary, and a parole violation. A temporary bond was set at $1 million, according to information released by authorities.

Police were called around 3:19 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, to the 300 block of State Street after a female caller reported that someone entered a residence behind her and shot a man, according to JPD spokesperson Sally Smith.

Officers arrived and located a male with an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency medical services transported the victim to an area hospital, where he later died. The case is being investigated as a homicide, police said.

The victim was identified as Michael Tatum, 58, of Jonesboro. The report states he had gunshot wounds to the left side of his abdomen and on the right side of his body near his shoulder.

Smith said Stafford was arrested “in connection with the shooting,” but she declined to release additional details.

History of suspect

Stafford has a prior capital murder arrest from 2015, court records show. That case was nolle prossed in 2017, with prosecutors citing insufficient evidence to proceed to trial.

A probable-cause affidavit filed in the 2015 case alleged officers were dispatched on Dec. 17, 2015, to a residence on North Second Street for an aggravated residential burglary involving two victims. The affidavit alleged Kayla Vinson was found dead in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head, and Donald Versey was found in the kitchen suffering a gunshot wound to his left arm. Versey was transported to St. Bernards Regional Medical Center for treatment, according to the affidavit.

In the affidavit, Versey told investigators two Black males forced entry into a bedroom after demanding “weed and money,” and that he was shot during the encounter. The affidavit said shell casings were located in multiple rooms, and Versey described the weapons as a “Tech 9” and a revolver. The affidavit also referenced later witness interviews that investigators said identified Stafford and Ben “Benjamin” Scott as suspects.

In the 2017 nolle prosequi filing, prosecutors stated three surviving witnesses inside the residence said they did not see the events described or could not identify the assailants. Prosecutors also wrote that other alleged statements implicating Stafford were inadmissible hearsay or were disavowed, and that the state’s principal witness indicated he would refuse to testify or invoke his Fifth Amendment right, leaving insufficient evidence to go forward.

This is not the only previous shooting Stafford was arrested in connection with.

Court records show Stafford was arrested in 2018 on charges of first-degree battery and committing a terroristic act following a shooting that left a vehicle struck multiple times by gunfire.

According to a probable-cause affidavit in that case, the shooting occurred July 4, 2018, when a vehicle carrying Aysia Groves was fired upon after she dropped off a friend at a residence on Dupwe Street. Investigators alleged multiple rounds were fired from another vehicle, striking Groves’ vehicle numerous times as it traveled along West Nettleton Avenue.

Witnesses told police the shooter appeared to lean out of a vehicle and fire an assault-style rifle. The affidavit alleged Stafford was seen earlier that evening asking who was driving the victim’s vehicle before following it and opening fire.

That case was later nolle prossed. In court filings, prosecutors cited a lack of sufficient evidence to proceed, noting issues with witness statements and the alleged victim’s cooperation.

Court records show arrests for drugs and firearms in 2018, a guilty plea to theft by receiving a firearm in 2019, and other charges.

Stafford was most recently arrested and paroled for dealing cocaine in Jonesboro, according to court records.

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The investigation into the State Street homicide remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jonesboro Police Department at 870-935-5657.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.