On 27 August, 2021, the affiant, Desha County Sheriff's Department Investigator Clint Bradberry was dispatched to a residence in Tiller, Arkansas at approximately 3:13 AM in reference to a burglary. The Suspect was reportedly still inside the residence.
Investigator Bradberry arrived on scene at 3:28 AM. Walking up to the residence, Bradberry spoke with an unknown black male who was standing outside and asked where the suspect was currently. The person stated that he was “inside”.
As Bradberry walked up the front steps he notice through the storm door window, an unknown black male lying face-down in the living room area. Bradberry also observed two black males and a black female also in the room.
Bradberry called for an ambulance. The ambulance arrived minutes later and transported the male to a hospital in Little Rock.
The affiant spoke to the three individuals inside and they stated that they were inside the residence, when (the suspect) the unknown male came in the front door with a black handgun and pointed it at them and said, “Get'em up”. One of the three individuals said that while the suspect pointed the gun at him, he pulled the trigger, but it did not fire. He (the suspect) cocked the gun and pointed it at another one of the three individuals and pulled the trigger, but again the gun misfired.
They stated that they then rushed him and “beat him” until he stopped fighting back and then called the police.
Bradberry located a .22 caliber black Taurus handgun and seven .22 bullets along with one spent shell casing, which is consistent with their statements.
The suspect's phone was turned over to investigators, which had been picked up while cleaning up afterward.
On the afternoon of 27 August 2021, a search warrant was obtained for the cellular phone belonging to the suspect, after the execution of the search warrant, investigators were able to determine the identity of the suspect as Johnny Ray Ballentine.
Ballentine is a convicted felon and is currently on parole.
