2025 ended with a spree of violence - leaving 4 dead and 7 persons shot.
It all happened on New Year's Eve - and the most shocking event was what can only be called a mass shooting in Independence village.
That happened just after 9:30 when unthinkable drug related violence shattered what should have been a night of celebration in Independence Village, leaving 7 persons shot - and one of them died the next day.
And the incomprehensible shooting spree leaves behind an even deeper story, of a family man caught in a burst of gunfire which police say was not meant for him. Jaleeza Roberts went south and tells the story.
This is "Flowers" the parrot of 39 year old Keith Logan and from his dejected appearance, it seems this animal knows that its owner will not be returning home.
Keith Logan died in a shooting here at Timmy's Bar on New Years Eve. The bullet indentations on the wall leading to the back of the bar follow the track of where the target, Rommel Middleton ran to escape his killer.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"What the investigators have gathered so far in this ongoing investigation is that the culprit arrived on a motorcycle and fired several shots at a person whom we believed to have been the intended target. When that target ran off the male person continued firing shots at him, which resulted in the injury of the other persons in that area, this shooting resulted in the injury of six persons as stated, namely Carl Cadle, Marion Logan, Marlon Logan, Robert Buckley, Rommel Middleton and Rupert Jones. And the shooting injury of Mr. Keith Logan, who subsequently succumbed to the injuries that he sustained at around 10:00 am on 1st January 2026. Police have secured several pieces of items that are of evidential value and are seeking two persons in relation to this ongoing investigation. The Department is taking this opportunity to remind the general public that it is an offense to harbor or conceal wanted persons."
Police have recovered several items of evidential value from the scene and are seeking two persons in connection with the ongoing investigation.
But, was this a mass shooting and what prompted it? Our sources say it is a turf war over drugs:
Jules Vasquez
"There was a fatal shooting in Bella Vista on Christmas morning, and we had, you had confirmed that was drug related. We have received information that that murder is related to this shooting/murder. Have you all confirmed that? Is it a retaliatory measure? Is it some kind of drug war happening between these? Between rival, drug dealers in these adjacent communities?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"What I will say is that it's a, it is an ongoing investigation, and I will urge everyone who has information to assist in this investigation to provide that information to the police."
Jules Vasquez
"Is this a turf war A.S.P. Smith?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"Mr. Vasquez, the information that has been disclosed is the extent to which the Department wishes to disclose. And as I advised, that as progress is made that will be shared."
And while police stonewall, there's escalating violence in the south - and for the Logan family, the last thing they would have expected was that an evening of socializing between cousins would have ended in murder.
Keith was a family man and now leaves behind a 5 year old and a niece he helped raise and care for. His sister Shannon Neal
Shannon Neal, Sister of the Deceased
"Keith was very humble. I would scold him a lot because he would be out there every time. Every time we wanted to find Keith, he was right there. And sometimes I would come home and he's drunk and I would be like, you need to do better than that. He would pack up his little stuff and leave. I would be worried because I know, you know, come back like a day or two, then when I see his little bag in the car, I'm happy because he has his own house. But he prefers to stay here because my little girl, he helps me with my little girl, taking her to school, helping me a lot. He's very, very humble. He wouldn't hurt a fly. People do him a lot of things out there. He come home. Me and my mom would be the ones to catch fever for him. We'd be like, leave people alone, sis, let them alone. That don't make no sense. You know, fool people, anybody could say that. And now you guys need to go into the new year without him."
Jaleeza Roberts -
"So can you talk to us about how you plan to move forward from this?"
Shannon Neal, Sister of the Deceased
"I don't know how. You know, he's my help. He helps me with everything. I don't know how my mom especially, she's, as you can see, she doesn't even walk. I don't know how she's going to be the one. I have to be the strong one, but at this point, what can I do?"
And in this despair and confusion, a mother who already is unable to walk is left to mourn one of her sons as the year begins. 6 persons left injured with a scar that their friend and family member did not make it through 2026. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
Police are seeking two persons of interest in relation to the mass casualty.
