LITTLE ROCK, Ark — The wife of a man police said was shot and killed during a home invasion in Little Rock earlier this week is pleading with the public to help find his killer.
Latonja Gavin said it’s been an emotional week for her and her family since her husband, Eric Gavin, was found shot to death Tuesday night.
“We was in church,” said Latonja.
Riddled with emotion, Latonja smiled at a picture she was holding and said September 18, 2002 will always be one of the happiest days of her life.
“We both looked at each other,” said Latonja.
It is the day she tied the knot with her husband and best friend, Eric.
“My husband was a good man,” said Latonja. “Really funny and outgoing … and he always got to be spiffy.”
Little Rock police said Eric, 45, was at a house near 19th and MLK with a woman, when the woman said two men forced their way inside.
She told police one suspect took her to a back room, while the other stayed with Eric in a front room and that’s when she said she heard a fatal shot.
“He didn’t deserve to die,” said Latonja. “He didn’t deserve to get killed like that.”
Officers said the woman claimed she didn’t know Eric’s name, but Latonja begs to differ.
“She knew him and she been knowing him and he comes and he has been spending time with her,” said Latonja.
Latonja said her husband cashed a check earlier that day and had a wad of cash on him … money she said made him a target.
“They robbed him at gun point and took that money,” said Latonja.
A deadly robbery she said the woman with him may have been in on.
“She knows who did this to my husband,” said Latonja.
Latonja said Eric was more than a husband, he was a loving father, grandfather and brother.
“If anybody is out there, please help the police find this person,” said Latonja. “I need to have closure.”
Police ask anyone with any information about the deadly shooting to give them a call.
