SHERWOOD, Ark. — A man was convicted on Thursday for his involvement in a deadly shooting at CHI St. Vincent North Hospital in Sherwood in September 2022.
25-year-old Raymond Lovett Jr. was sentenced to life in prison plus 15 years on "firearm enhancement" for the killing of 21-year-old Leighton Whitfield.
"The defendant in this shooting shattered a family and terrorized our community,” Sixth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Will Jones said. “While nothing can bring Mr. Whitfield back, I pray his family sleeps better tonight knowing justice has been served."
According to authorities, police responded to a shots fired call at the hospital around 9:55 a.m. when they found Whitfield dead in Room 409 on the fourth floor.
Whitfield reportedly visited his fiancé at the hospital when Lovett entered the room. The Sherwood Police Department said Lovett shot Whitfield after asking the pair how long they'd been together.
After the incident, the fiancé stated that Lovett left the room as she pressed the emergency button and struggled to reach Whitfield.
CHI St. Vincent North initiated a lockdown because of the situation, and shortly after, police confirmed Lovett was in custody and that Whitfield had died.
