A Pine Bluff resident who spotted a stranger inside her car on a security camera ended up in a tense face to face confrontation that ended with the suspected thief shot and the stolen firearm still missing. Police say the investigation is ongoing as they piece together what happened.
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PINE BLUFF, AR (3-minute read) — Officers with the Pine Bluff Police Department were called out late on the night of December 7 after a resident saw something no one wants to see on their home security feed. Around eleven at night, the resident noticed an unknown man sitting inside her vehicle parked on the 2000 block of West 24th Avenue and immediately notified police.
When she checked the vehicle in person, she realized her 380 caliber pistol, which had been stored in the driver side door, was gone. That missing firearm became the center of a tense confrontation. The resident demanded that the man give the pistol back, and an argument broke out between the two.
At some point during that argument, two shots were fired. The rounds struck the man in the left side of his neck and in his shoulder. Despite being injured, he ran away on foot, leaving the resident, officers, and neighbors with very few answers in those first confusing moments.
Police later identified the suspect as 23 year old Dekoda Hill. Officers found Hill a short distance away on the 1600 block of West 23rd Avenue. He was taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center for treatment of his gunshot wounds. Because he was undergoing medical care, investigators were not able to get a full statement from him.
Officers also learned that Hill has an active felony warrant related to theft. Even so, the most concerning detail for many in the community is that the stolen firearm has not been recovered. A missing handgun in a neighborhood creates an ongoing risk, since a firearm in the wrong hands can be used in other crimes or mishandled by someone who does not know how to safely operate it.
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Pine Bluff self defense and home security lessons
This case touches on several issues that responsible firearm owners think about often. Leaving a pistol in a vehicle can be convenient, but it also makes the car a target. Many car break ins happen specifically because criminals hope to find an unattended firearm. Locking firearms in a secured vehicle safe or carrying it on your person within the limits of Arkansas law is usually safer than storing it loose in a door pocket.
There is also the decision to confront a suspected thief. While it is completely understandable to be angry when you see someone inside your car, closing the distance on a stranger can quickly turn a property crime into a life threatening situation. Anytime there is a firearm involved, emotions run high, and the risk of injury or death increases.
Many self defense instructors recommend calling police, staying in a secure place, using cameras to gather information, and being an excellent witness rather than approaching a suspect if you can safely avoid it. The law in Arkansas allows for self defense in serious situations, but every case is judged on its specific facts. The safest plan is to prevent confrontations whenever possible and to think through how you would handle a similar call from your own security system before it ever happens.
The investigation into this shooting is still open, and detectives will be reviewing physical evidence, video, and any future statements to determine exactly what charges, if any, will be filed and against whom.
Safety Tip: If you keep a firearm in your vehicle, use a dedicated lock box secured to the frame, park in well lit areas, and rehearse a plan where you call law enforcement and observe from a safe location rather than confronting a suspected thief face to face.
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