One of Four Pedestrians Struck in Jonesboro Dies; Murder Charge Expected

JONESBORO, Ark. — One of four pedestrians struck by a vehicle at two Jonesboro locations Thursday, Aug. 13, has died, according to the victim’s family.

The victim was identified as Belinda Adams, an employee at Walmart Neighborhood Market on Harrisburg Road, JPD confirmed.

Her daughter, Heather Veteto, said doctors determined Adams had no blood flow to her brain and pronounced her clinically dead. Because Adams was an organ donor, the family waited while the donation process was completed.

Veteto posted Monday that the donation went well and that Adams “officially left this world at 3:38 p.m.”

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The suspect is now expected to face a murder charge, NEA Report has learned. 

The Incident

The Jonesboro Police Department identified Michael Vincent Coleman, 43, as the suspect accused of striking the four pedestrians. Coleman remains held on a $5 million bond, with jail records listing charges including criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder.

Police and emergency personnel were dispatched around 6:30 p.m. to Walmart Neighborhood Market on Harrisburg Road, where they found two people who had been struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.

At 6:36 p.m., police said the vehicle entered Craighead Forest Park, traveled onto a pedestrian walking path and struck two more people. The driver then left the vehicle and fled on foot.

Police initially reported that one victim at each location was critically injured. The other two sustained minor injuries.

Bystanders directed officers toward the area where the driver fled. Police deployed a canine and apprehended Coleman following what JPD described as a physical encounter with officers and the canine.

A search of court records showed Coleman has a lengthy history of encounters with law enforcement. Police previously told NEA Report that officers were familiar with him.

Records show an Aug. 3 arrest on allegations of having no insurance and failing to maintain control, pending felony identity fraud and theft charges from July, and a 2023 felony drug conviction.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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