Barry Jun Mongkeya, a 19-year-old Decatur High School senior of Micronesian descent, was fatally shot on March 11, 2024, in Decatur, Arkansas. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the incident and at first suggested the shooting may have been accidental, but investigators said a full investigation was needed to determine the circumstances. In the days after the death, no public details about suspects or arrests were released as the inquiry continued.

Friends, family, classmates and the wider Decatur community marked what would have been Mongkeya’s twentieth birthday with a candlelight vigil. He was remembered as a cherished student and friend, and the gathering highlighted the depth of the community’s grief. If anyone knew Barry, was with him that night, or has information that could help the investigation, please come forward.