High-Profile Attorney Demands Arrest in Ward Shooting Case
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: November 23, 2012
A North Little Rock woman is stepping up her efforts to make sure the man who shot and killed her husband is put behind bars.
The victim's wife and mother say, authorities have told them who shot Ernest Hoskins Jr. November 9th in Ward, but two weeks later the person is still free. Hoskins' family has hired an attorney working on the high profile shooting death of Trayvon Martin, hoping to push police, to act soon.
"If someone could just tell me why this man has not been arrested for killing my son," Monica Hoskins asked at a press conference Friday afternoon.
Her question, part of an emotional plea from a mother, desperate for answers in the shooting death of her only son.
"Ernest was my baby, that was my son. Never made momma cry, never made me cry until now," she added, holding back tears.
These days, questions, memories and photos are all Monica and Nikki Hoskins have to hold on to since Ernest Hoskins Jr. was killed at what they believe was a business meeting gone wrong.
His widow claims, police told her who did it, that night.
"He did say 'he confessed'. He said 'he made a terrible mistake' but nothing was done," said Nikki Hoskins.
It's evidence the family claims police have, but wont use. To add pressure, they've hired attorney Benjamin Crump.
"Imagine it was your husband who gets shot point blank range and they have the witnesses, they have the gun and a confession, but yet the killer walks free," Crump asked rhetorically.
Crump helped push the shooting of Florida teen Trayvon Martin into the national spotlight. Now, like the Martin family, Hoskins' mother and widow are making their pain public.
"He had to tell me twice for it to register in to my head, hey your husband is not coming home tonight," said Nikki Hoskins.
They're hoping to move police to hold the shooter accountable quickly so they can begin moving on.
State police say the investigation is still open. While the family claims they've been told who the shooter is by police and a witness, we're withholding the name, as authorities have not identified the person as a suspect.
The victim's wife and mother say, authorities have told them who shot Ernest Hoskins Jr. November 9th in Ward, but two weeks later the person is still free. Hoskins' family has hired an attorney working on the high profile shooting death of Trayvon Martin, hoping to push police, to act soon.
"If someone could just tell me why this man has not been arrested for killing my son," Monica Hoskins asked at a press conference Friday afternoon.
Her question, part of an emotional plea from a mother, desperate for answers in the shooting death of her only son.
"Ernest was my baby, that was my son. Never made momma cry, never made me cry until now," she added, holding back tears.
These days, questions, memories and photos are all Monica and Nikki Hoskins have to hold on to since Ernest Hoskins Jr. was killed at what they believe was a business meeting gone wrong.
His widow claims, police told her who did it, that night.
"He did say 'he confessed'. He said 'he made a terrible mistake' but nothing was done," said Nikki Hoskins.
It's evidence the family claims police have, but wont use. To add pressure, they've hired attorney Benjamin Crump.
"Imagine it was your husband who gets shot point blank range and they have the witnesses, they have the gun and a confession, but yet the killer walks free," Crump asked rhetorically.
Crump helped push the shooting of Florida teen Trayvon Martin into the national spotlight. Now, like the Martin family, Hoskins' mother and widow are making their pain public.
"He had to tell me twice for it to register in to my head, hey your husband is not coming home tonight," said Nikki Hoskins.
They're hoping to move police to hold the shooter accountable quickly so they can begin moving on.
State police say the investigation is still open. While the family claims they've been told who the shooter is by police and a witness, we're withholding the name, as authorities have not identified the person as a suspect.
