On Saturday, July 18, 2026, patrol officers with the 12th Street Division responded to a subject down at 2:00 am in the Little Rock National Cemetery. Officers arrived and discovered 34-year-old Zachary Counts, suffering from severe wounds to the back of his head. MEMS responded and he transported to a local hospital where he was listed in critical condition. Officers also spoke with two (2) unsheltered individuals who advised they heard a loud noise while in the area and knew of Counts from the unsheltered community. Officers secured the area and notified Homicide Detectives and the Crime Scene Search Unit who arrived to process the scene.
Update: on July 21, 2026, Counts succumbed to injuries at a local hospital. The Pulaski County Coroner transported the deceased body to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy. This incident was upgraded to a homicide. During the investigation, 33-year-old Philip Lambert was developed as a suspect. Lambert was taken into custody, interviewed, and charged with 1st Degree Murder. This investigation is ongoing and occurred in the 12th Street Division.