April 2025 Conway Mass Shooting: Records Show PD Chief Asleep At The Wheel…Could Have Prevented It
Ordinance and resources not utilized
Jan 4, 2026
On April 13th, 2025, a shooting erupted during a huge gathering at 5th Avenue Park in Conway.
Tragically two young people, 24-year-old Tatayana Penister and 23-year-old Demetrius Feemster II, were murdered during the shooting while nine others were wounded.
Four people were arrested and charged for the shooting which is great; however, many questions about actions by the city remain.
In October I promised some family members of Tatayana Penister that I would dig in and investigate to see if the shooting could have been prevented….and I have.
I started with investigating the actions of disgraced patrol officer Nathan Watkins, “The Buffalo Wild Wings Cop” that took place before the shooting erupted.
On October 30th, 2025, I brought you the results of that investigation that showed he withheld information that was reported to him the afternoon of April 13th that could have led to the prevention of the shooting.
I then turned my focus to the actions of Chief Harris that weekend prior to the shooting taking place.
What I found is that #1 by Ordinance, Harris could have taken steps to evict people from the pavilion in the park and actually close the entire park thus shutting down the unauthorized event. #2 he was not engaged on any of the events that weekend until after the shooting happened.
Let’s start with #1.
Title 12 – Parks And Recreation
Ordinance #0-12-62
Section B.
No person, group, association or organization shall use any of the pavilion facilities located in any of the parks of the City of Conway unless said person, group, association or organization shall have obtained a reservation and paid a fee of five dollars ($5.00) for the use thereof through the Parks and Recreation Department. Said fee, with the exception of one dollar ($1.00), shall be refunded only upon the cancellation of any such reservation at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to reserved time.
Now Officers estimated as many as 1,500 people converged on the small park to attend the event. On body camera and department videoed interviews, multiple Officers described the scene as chaotic, out of control and dangerous. One Officer advised his family members with “Hey y’all don’t need to be around this area because it’s getting pretty bad.”
Were there 1,500 people actually in the small pavilion ?….Of Course not.
However, photos and video on social media showed the pavilion was where the center of the Party was staged with music and a DJ….without a Permit.
Under 12.08.08 Penalty of the Ordinance, Harris could have ordered his Officers to evict the people from the pavilion effectively shutting down the entertainment for the party which would have ended it.
Let me do you one better though.
Section A of Ordinance #0-12-62 states – Any section or portion of any park may be declared closed to the public at any time and for any interval of time deemed necessary, expedient or proper, either temporarily, permanently or at regular or stated intervals, by the proper authorities of the city. All persons shall be prohibited from using any area so closed pursuant to this section of the chapter.
Harris could have easily gotten in touch with the Mayor and utilized Section A to legally close the park and shut down the entire event.
Now the day after the shooting, Mayor Bart Castleberry and Chief Harris held a press conference.
Harris announced that no permits were issued for the event and that the process was not followed by the promoters.
He stated that he had dealt with parties like this and shutting them down for twenty-six years….I took that to mean he was establishing that he was an expert in these matters.
He went on to say – “I have questions about why it was not shut down.”, and announce he was going to start a review of Officers’ actions….Basically throwing his officers under the bus for his failure in leadership.
In October at a hearing, Conway PD Lieutenant Monte Matthews stated listening to Harris in that press conference “felt like a kick in the Balls.”….I’m sure it did to most of the Conway PD Officers.
If Harris is such an expert in shutting down these types of parties, then my question is….Why the Hell didn’t he ?….After all he is the freaking Chief right ?
Before we answer that, let me lay a just little more foundation on what took place that weekend.
The same promotions that organized and advertised the party at 5th Avenue Park on April 13th had done the same for a party at Toad Suck Park the day before.
Officers got that party dispersed with partygoers migrating to the Knights of Columbus on 6th street in Conway, which is near 5th Avenue Park.
That resulted in calls, including shots fired, however CPD Officers were able to shut down that gathering as well.
Then came Sunday.
At the Press Conference, Harris stated “We did not find out about this until late Sunday evening as far as the party at 5th Avenue Park.”
That statement was 100% false.
As early as 9am that Sunday morning, Officers and the Department were well aware that the Party was coming to 5th Avenue Park at 3pm that day.
Records show that Patrol Officer Shaelyn Smith group texted other officers, including Supervisors, the flyer for the event letting them know it was coming. Another Officer forwarded that Flyer to all officers working the Sunday day shift.
Records from the Administrative Inquiry into the shooting also show that the day shift was aware of the events from Saturday night and was aware of the Party coming at 5th Avenue Park that day. The evening shift, which came on at 5:30pm, was told at shift briefing the Party was taking place at 5th Avenue Park and most of them already knew from the circulation of the flyer.
The written report along with video of Officer interviews revealed several officers felt like supervision was lacking and questioned why there were no orders to shut the party down.
Sgt. Tim Gray from day shift in his video interview spoke about actions that could have been taken and stated in hindsight they should have been taken.
Now there are hundreds of documents and hours of video I have gathered that would have you shaking your head, but I wanted to give you enough to make a point.
With what happened the night before the shooting, the fact the department knew this party was coming to 5th Avenue Park without a permit and all the information available….Why didn’t Harris have a plan to deal with it ?
Why were no additional Officers called in to help ?….Why was there no coordination with the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police and other area agencies for assistance if needed ?….Why were special response teams not on alert and most importantly….Why didn’t Harris utilize Ordinance #0-12-62 to….stay with me now….Shut The Party Down !
Which brings us to #2….Harris not engaged on any of the events that weekend until after the shooting happened.
I FOI’ed all emails, texts, and phone call logs between Harris and Assistant Chief Mike Welsh and Patrol Major James Presley for April 12th & 13th 2025.
The Department’s response….No records exist.
I also FOI’ed all radio traffic and calls with Dispatch for Harris, Welch and Presley for the 12th and 13th.
The Department’s response….No records exist.
Now with these events going on, common sense would dictate that Harris would be engaged with his command staff right ?….And that Welsh and Presley would be engaged on what was happening at the events as well ?
Yet there was Zero engagement by any of them, leaving the whopping four Officers at the event without command.
How about the Mayor ?
Well, the only communications Harris had with him on the 12th and 13th are calls from the Mayor at 8:09pm, 8:31pm and 10:17pm after the shooting on the 13th….Nothing beforehand.
It all boils down to this –
Why wasn’t a plan formulated to deal with this ?….Because Harris was asleep at the wheel.
Why were no additional Officers called in ?….Because Harris was asleep at the wheel.
Why were area agencies not contacted ?….Because Harris was asleep at the wheel.
Why were Special Response Teams not put on alert ?….Because Harris was asleep at the wheel.
Why was Ordinance #0-12-62 not used to shut down the Party ?….Because Harris was asleep at the wheel.
And last but most importantly, why are two people dead and nine wounded ?….Because Harris was asleep at the wheel.
That’s Facts….not Fiction.
Professional Bully Fighter I investigate and report on issues around the State of Arkansas with an emphasis on Government. I am strong conservative however I bring Truth and Facts regardless of Party affiliation….My hashtag is #FactsNotFiction
Why was such a big deal made about one officer failing to do her job when the whole problem had been channeled by the Chief? She seemed to be a good diversion to keep eyes off the Chief. Conway used to be such a great place. Schools, city government, chamber of commerce, and a few others seem to have lost their way. The mayor was not responsible for handling this event. But he was responsible for calling out those who were responsible. That not happening as it should have is an indication of how the nest is woven.