HOPE, Ark. — A Hope man is in custody and charged with second-degree murder following a fatal shooting incident early Thursday morning.
On January 8, 2026, at approximately 4:30 a.m., officers with the Hope Police Department responded to reports of shots fired at a person in the 600 block of North Cedar Street.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers entered a residence where they discovered a male victim lying on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived shortly after and confirmed the victim was deceased at the scene.
Victim and Suspect Identified
Following the notification of next of kin, authorities have identified the victim as Dashawn L. Compton, 26, of Washington, Arkansas.
Police have arrested Jacolby C. Martin, 28, of Hope, Arkansas, in connection with the shooting. Martin has been formally charged with Murder in the 2nd Degree.
Investigation Ongoing
The Hope Police Department has stated that the investigation is active and ongoing. Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be forwarded to the 8th North Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for formal review.