Police said the suspect was taken into custody about 10 minutes after the call.
CONWAY, AR — A 42-year-old Conway man has been charged with capital murder after police said he stabbed and killed another man during an argument inside the Conway Food Store on Sunday morning, with officers making an arrest within minutes of the reported attack.
The victim, identified by police as 36-year-old Brendon Lambert, was found wounded inside the store and was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Investigators have not released a motive or said what started the dispute, but they said the men knew each other and that the case remains under investigation as the suspect awaits his first court appearance.
Officers were called to the store in the 1200 block of Dave Ward Drive at about 7:08 a.m. Sunday. Police said Lambert was suffering from apparent stab wounds when they arrived, and responding officers and other first responders tried to help him before he was transported for emergency treatment. Lambert did not survive, police said. The stabbing happened inside the Conway Food Store, a gas station and convenience shop on a busy stretch of Dave Ward Drive near apartment complexes, restaurants and campus traffic that builds through the morning on weekends.
Police arrested Melvin Jackson, 42, about 10 minutes after the incident was reported. Investigators said officers located Jackson at a home on South Davis Street and took him into custody without incident. Jackson was booked into the Faulkner County Detention Center later Sunday morning, jail records show, and he was being held without bond as the capital murder case moved into the early court process. Police described the stabbing as an isolated incident involving one victim and said there was no broader threat connected to the call.
Authorities have not said what weapon was used or how many times Lambert was stabbed. They also have not released information about whether anyone else tried to break up the argument or how many people were inside the store at the time. Investigators did not immediately release details about any surveillance video, witness interviews or a timeline of events inside the business beyond the initial call time. Police said they believe Lambert and Jackson knew each other and that the stabbing happened during an argument between the two men.
Under Arkansas law, a capital murder charge can carry a sentence of death or life in prison without parole for an adult defendant if convicted, though prosecutors must take additional steps to seek the death penalty and juries weigh punishment after a trial. It was not immediately clear Monday whether prosecutors intended to seek the death penalty in this case. Court filings describing the evidence supporting the charge were not released publicly in the initial police summary, and investigators have not said whether Jackson has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Dave Ward Drive is one of Conway’s main east-west corridors, linking residential neighborhoods to shopping areas and the University of Central Arkansas. The Conway Food Store sits close to frequent commuter routes, and the early-morning timing meant the response unfolded as the area was beginning to see regular traffic. Employees at nearby businesses and drivers passing the storefront could see police activity as officers secured the scene and investigators began documenting what happened. Police have not said how long the store remained closed or whether any employees were injured.
In a brief public update, police asked anyone with information to contact the Conway Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division as detectives continued interviews and worked to confirm the sequence of events leading up to the stabbing. Investigators typically review video, collect forensic evidence and confirm relationships between the people involved before presenting a full case file to prosecutors, a process that can take days or weeks depending on the evidence. Police have not released Lambert’s hometown or additional biographical details, and they have not said whether the men had a documented history of disputes.
As of Monday, Jackson remained jailed in Faulkner County while the investigation continued. Authorities have not announced a court date, but the next expected milestone is Jackson’s initial appearance before a judge, when formal notice of the charge is given and future hearings can be scheduled.
Author note: Last updated February 24, 2026.