SHERWOOD, AR – A terrifying ordeal unfolded in Sherwood last week when an 18-year-old man was allegedly abducted at gunpoint, bound, and forced into a game of Russian roulette by three men intent on breaking up his relationship with their relative. The assailants, authorities say, leveled death threats against both the teenager and his family, vowing violence unless he complied with their demands.
Robert Ellerd, 54, along with brothers Jackson Homan, 23, and Charles Homan, 20, were taken into custody last week and face charges including aggravated robbery, kidnapping, and first-degree terroristic threatening, according to arrest records.
The incident reportedly began on a Friday afternoon when the teenage victim drove his girlfriend’s car to her house on Apple Valley Drive in Sherwood, a suburb northeast of Little Rock. As he parked, Jackson Homan allegedly sprang into action, yanking open the driver’s side door, restraining the teen, and dragging him from the vehicle.
According to a police affidavit, the young man was marched to the back of the home, where he heard the sound of a gun being cocked and felt a firearm pressed against him. He said his assailants then forced him, at gunpoint, into the rear seat of a white four-door Jeep with a black roof.
Inside the Jeep, the teen recognized Robert Ellerd, who was then engaged to the mother of his girlfriend. Ellerd, who formerly worked as director of financial aid at University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College, reportedly carried a holstered handgun throughout the ordeal. Both Charles and Jackson Homan were also allegedly armed, with Charles holding a gun on the victim while Jackson drove them away.
The group traveled to another home in the Lakewood area, where the victim’s terror escalated. Police documents state he was ordered to remove his shoes and socks, forced into a chair, and tied up with an extension cord. The teens said his captors armed themselves with additional weapons, including a shotgun, and staged a game of Russian roulette, spinning the cylinder and holding the gun to his head.
Investigators report the men threatened the 18-year-old, demanding he end his romantic relationship with his girlfriend and leave the Little Rock area immediately. The victim told police that the suspects threatened to find and kill both him and his family if their orders were not followed.
Following the harrowing experience, the men released the teen near a local high school. The victim promptly reported the incident to Sherwood police, setting in motion the investigation that led to the arrests.
All three suspects remain in Pulaski County Jail, each held on a $500,000 bond. Ellerd, after his arrest, was fired from his college position. Court dates for the men have not yet been scheduled.
Jackson Homan’s connection to the victim extends beyond the current relationship entanglement. He was previously best friends with the late brother of the victim’s girlfriend, adding a layer of complexity to the motive behind the alleged crime.
Police have not released further details on the ongoing investigation, and it is unclear if additional charges may be forthcoming.