Police arrested the 17-year-old after two 19-year-olds were fatally shot at a Denton Street home.
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — A 17-year-old accused in the fatal shootings of two young adults in West Memphis will be charged as an adult, police said, marking the latest development in a case that began with a double homicide Sunday and led to a search across the city.
Zaelyn Taylor Smith faces two counts of first-degree murder, along with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a minor, according to West Memphis police. The charges are accusations, and police have not released information indicating that the case has been resolved in court. Capt. Eric Johnson said Tuesday that Smith would be charged as an adult.
Police said Smith was taken into custody Monday evening after officers found him in a backyard on O.K. Street. His arrest came about a day after officers responded to a reported shooting in the 500 block of Denton Street, where Malik Jones and Shaniya Smith were found suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were 19 and died from their injuries.
Authorities had publicly identified Zaelyn Smith as a suspect while the search was underway and announced warrants for the four charges he now faces. Police had warned during the search that he should be considered armed and dangerous. His arrest ended the immediate search for a suspect but did not end the investigation into what happened before the shooting.
The police response Sunday also extended to a home on Weaver Street. Officers surrounded that residence after receiving information that the suspect might be inside, but authorities later determined he was not there. Police have released few details about that part of the operation or about how investigators later determined where to search for Smith.
Investigators continued working in the Denton Street area Tuesday. Officers and police dogs were seen searching behind homes near the location of the shooting as authorities continued gathering evidence. Police have not publicly announced a motive or given a detailed account of the events that led to the gunfire.
The aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a minor charges also remain largely unexplained in the public information released so far. Authorities have not said what alleged conduct forms the basis of those charges. The presence of an additional charge involving the welfare of a minor does not by itself establish what a child may have witnessed or experienced, and police have not publicly provided those details.
Family members identified Jones and Shaniya Smith as the parents of a 1-year-old daughter. Shaye Smith, Shaniya Smith’s mother, said the accused teenager is her nephew. That family connection adds another layer to a case in which investigators have yet to publicly explain what they believe led to the killings.
Police initially announced the deaths and search for a suspect after the Sunday shooting, then confirmed Smith’s arrest Monday. By Tuesday, authorities said the 17-year-old would face the case as an adult. No verified public information reviewed Wednesday established a motive, a detailed sequence of the shooting or the next scheduled court proceeding.
The investigation remains active. Smith is accused of the crimes but has not been convicted, and additional evidence or details about the allegations could emerge as the case moves through the court system.
Author note: Last updated September 2, 2026.