Blytheville, Arkansas. The Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has been forced to file a nolle prosequi in the Blytheville homicide case involving Omarion Grant and several co-defendants after significant witness issues made it impossible for the State to ethically proceed to trial at this time.
Prosecuting Attorney Sonia F. Hagood said, “Violent crime affects entire communities, and accountability becomes far more difficult when witnesses are unwilling or unable to stand by their statements in court.”
These developments underscore a difficult reality in prosecuting violent crime: prosecutors cannot do this job alone. Successful prosecutions depend on witnesses who are willing to come forward and provide truthful, consistent testimony. When witnesses fail to appear, materially change their testimony, or cannot be secured for trial, it becomes extremely difficult to present the full truth of what occurred to a jury.
During the initial trial proceedings in June 2025, several subpoenaed witnesses left the courthouse during jury selection and failed to return, forcing the court to adjourn the proceedings. Orders to Show Cause were issued, and the witnesses were later located and arrested in Missouri before being transported back to Arkansas.
When the case was retried in July 2025, the State’s key witness materially changed her testimony while on the stand, undermining the prosecution’s ability to establish identification of the alleged shooters. The jury ultimately was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, and a mistrial was declared.
Cases involving violent crime can only be successfully prosecuted when witnesses are willing to stand by their statements and participate in the judicial process. Ensuring that witnesses feel safe and supported when coming forward is critical to achieving justice for victims and accountability for offenders.
In addition, another material witness who is currently incarcerated in Missouri could not be secured for trial. Despite the State’s efforts to obtain temporary custody of the individual so that testimony could be presented in court, the Missouri Department of Corrections declined to authorize the transfer necessary for the witness to testify in Arkansas.
Because of these developments—including the recantation and material change in testimony from a key witness and the inability to secure a critical incarcerated witness—the State is presently unable to ethically proceed to trial against Omarion Grant and co-defendant Tyleik Moore. For similar reasons related to the unavailable incarcerated witness, the State is also unable to proceed against co-defendants Prince Black, Jacquavion Edwards, and Rodney Jones.
While the charges are being dismissed at this time, the State will continue to evaluate the case and reserves the ability to reconsider charges should additional evidence become available or witnesses become available to testify.
The remaining co-defendants were alleged to have served as drivers during the incident. Based on the available evidence, the State offered those individuals substantial consideration in exchange for cooperation and truthful testimony against the alleged shooters. Those offers were declined.
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