Christa Shockley, 21, was hard working and attending college to build a future, but it ended about 2 a.m. Thursday when she was fatally shot, allegedly by a 12-year-old boy, while she was working a graveyard shift at the Fouke, Ark., E-Z Mart.
Shockley's death prompted expressions of shock and grief.
Statements have been issued by E-Z Mart CEO Sonja Hubbard, University of Arkansas Community College Chancellor Chris Thomason, and Texarkana Regional Airport Director Mark Mellinger.
Shockley attended classes at the college and worked a second job at the Texarkana Airport in addition to working as a clerk at the Fouke E-Z Mart.
She was a 2014 graduate of Genoa Central High School.
Grief over the tragedy continued to grow Friday.
"E-Z Mart is deeply saddened and still shocked by the tragic loss of life of one of our own, Christa Shockley. Her unique spirit and love for others has been echoed by her many colleagues and customers. She was a special person that will be missed yet remain in our hearts. Our efforts are focused on her family and our E-Z Mart family while endeavoring to meet law enforcement, community and customer needs. We continue to pray for all those suffering from this tragedy," said Sonja Hubbard, the CEO of E-Z Mart Stores, Inc.
Thomason issued similar statements regarding the death of the college student. He sent a message to the students, faculty and staff about the incident.
"All our faculty, staff and students who were blessed to encounter her on our UA-Texarkana campus fully appreciate Christa as a bright and caring person. In her commitment to achieving her own educational dreams, she touched the lives of so many on our campus in such a powerful way. Please join me in lifting her family up with our collective thoughts and prayers during this time of their unimaginable loss," Thomason said.
"It is completely natural for us as Christa's campus family to experience an intense sense of loss during this time as well. Please know that we all are here to assist any student, faculty or staff member as they attempt to manage their extreme sense of loss over this tragedy. Also, staff members will have information available to assist those who need additional, professional support to properly process their grief," he said.
Shockley was also employed by the Texarkana Regional Airport, according to Mark Mellinger, airport director.
"She worked for the airport as a part-time night security guard. She mainly worked on weekends and had been with us for a little over a year," Mellinger said.
"I and the entire staff here at the airport were deeply saddened when we found out what had happened. Christa was a very nice young lady and a good worker. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family during this very difficult time," he said.
Shockley's body was found by a Texarkana Gazette newspaper carrier about 2 a.m. Thursday in the Fouke E-Z Mart Store. She was lying on her back on the floor near the entrance to the building. She had been shot, but there appeared to have been no struggle, said the newspaper carrier, who asked her name to be withheld.
A pistol was used in the homicide, said Miller County Chief Deputy Sheriff Michael McQuerrey, and the weapon has been recovered.
An investigation ensued, and the 12-year-old was arrested just after 8 a.m. Thursday, McQuerrey said. The boy has been place in the juvenile detention center in Texarkana, Ark.
Investigators worked with E-Z Mart employees to find evidence and determine the identity of the suspect.
Shockley's body has been transferred to the Arkansas Crime Lab for autopsy to determine the cause of death and analyze evidence.
Additional questions were submitted to McQuerrey regarding the fatal shooting.
"Each of those questions involve the continuing investigation and we are not going to make a statement," he said.