CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ark. — Authorities in Arkansas have launched a homicide investigation after responding to a house fire overnight.
According to police, first responders were called to Bailey Street in Earle around 12:48 a.m. after a fire broke out at the home. The Earle Fire Department, Earle Police Department and Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department made the scene and located three people inside dead.
The names of those victims were not released by police pending notification of next of kin.
However, a family member and a neighbor confirmed two of the victims were Chassidy Brown and Kendrick Jones.
Authorities wouldn’t go into detail on Monday but said they are investigating this case as a homicide. The bodies were sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Little Rock for an autopsy.
The family of one of the victims told WREG’s Melissa Moon the victims were a woman, her boyfriend and the woman’s 5-year-old child. They believe the two adult victims were shot multiple times before their home was set on fire.
The family also said they believe they know who the suspect is.
Neighbors also confirmed they heard multiple gunshots early Monday morning before the home caught on fire.
Police have not confirmed any of that information, saying they couldn’t release any details at this time.
