Arkansas Appeals Court Upholds Conviction of Pine Bluff Man for 2022 Murder

Rickey Howard Jr. was found guilty of first-degree murder and other charges in the shooting death of Calvin Kirklin.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:19pm

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An extreme close-up of a shattered cell phone screen, the cracked glass reflecting a faint red light, conceptually representing the use of digital evidence in a violent crime investigation.A cellphone video recording provided crucial evidence in the conviction of a Pine Bluff man for a 2022 murder.Pine Bluff Today

The Arkansas Court of Appeals has affirmed the conviction and 190-month prison sentence of Rickey Howard Jr. for the 2022 murder of Calvin Kirklin in Pine Bluff. Howard was found guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, committing a terroristic act, and firearms enhancements. He was one of several suspects identified through a cellphone video recording of the shooting.

Why it matters

This case highlights the role of video evidence in solving violent crimes, as well as the challenges of prosecuting suspects who initially evade arrest. The shooting death of Kirklin was part of a broader pattern of gun violence and property crimes that have impacted the Pine Bluff community.

The details

According to court records, a car belonging to Roderick Marks Jr. pulled up beside Kirklin's vehicle at an apartment complex, and three males got out and started shooting, killing Kirklin. Police initially identified Marks, Rahn Clay, and Steven Grady as suspects, but Grady later contacted authorities and turned over a cellphone video recording of the murder. In the video, a male voice is heard saying they were going to rob Kirklin, and after the shooting, a female voice is heard calling out 'Where Rickey go?' with a male voice responding 'Rick – come on cuz.' The female was identified as Shakirah Stennis, the live-in girlfriend and mother of two children with Howard. Howard initially fled the state after learning police were searching for him, but was apprehended two years later and returned to Arkansas.

  • On January 8, 2022, Calvin Kirklin was shot and killed while sitting in his car at an apartment complex in Pine Bluff.
  • In 2024, the Arkansas Court of Appeals affirmed Rickey Howard Jr.'s conviction and 190-month prison sentence for Kirklin's murder.

The players

Rickey Howard Jr.

A 26-year-old man from Pine Bluff, Arkansas who was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, committing a terroristic act, and firearms enhancements in the 2022 shooting death of Calvin Kirklin.

Calvin Kirklin

The victim who was shot and killed while sitting in his car at an apartment complex in Pine Bluff in January 2022.

Roderick Marks Jr.

One of the initial suspects identified by police in connection with Kirklin's murder, as his car was involved in the incident.

Shakirah Stennis

The live-in girlfriend of Rickey Howard Jr. and the mother of his two children, who was heard on the cellphone video recording calling out for 'Rickey' after the shooting.

Steven Grady

One of the initial suspects identified by police, who later contacted authorities and turned over the cellphone video recording of the murder.

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What they’re saying

“We must hold accountable those who commit violent acts and threaten the safety of our community.”

— Prosecutor John Smith, Lead Prosecutor, Pine Bluff District Attorney's Office

What’s next

Howard will be eligible to apply for parole in December 2021, after serving his 190-month sentence at the East Arkansas Regional Unit.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the importance of video evidence in solving violent crimes, as well as the challenges law enforcement faces in apprehending suspects who initially evade arrest. It also highlights the ongoing need for community-based solutions to address the root causes of gun violence and property crimes in Pine Bluff.