Authorities claimed that a shooter opened fire at a grocery store in Arkansas on Friday, killing at least three people and injuring a number of others.
At a late-afternoon press conference, state police director Mike Hagar stated that the deadly incident occurred at the Mad Butcher in Fordyce, a tiny hamlet located roughly 70 miles south of Little Rock, just before 11:40 a.m. CT.
According to the head of Arkansas State Police, three of the eleven wounded individuals were also among the dead. Though their wounds were not life-threatening, two officers were also hurt.
According to Hagar, a few of the eight civilians who survived were in “extremely critical” condition.
After exchanging gunfire with cops, the gunman, Travis Eugene Posey, 44, of New Edinburg, a town approximately 11 miles east of Fordyce, was identified as the shooter on Friday night. Posey is being treated in custody for non-life-threatening injuries.
The director of state police declared, “It’s tragic. Our hearts are broken.”
Hagar, who serves as the state’s secretary of public safety, stated that it was premature to ascertain the suspect’s motivation. He said that Arkansas State Police is in charge of the inquiry.
According to jail records, Posey was arrested Friday night at Ouachita County Detention Center on a charge of first-degree murder following his discharge from medical treatment.
When formal accusations are brought, state police said he will probably be charged with three counts of capital murder. It stated that further charges were probably coming.
The public defender’s office for Dallas County, Arkansas, did not immediately reply to a request for comment, and it was unclear if he had hired legal representation.
Matt Gill, a meat cutter, heard gunfire and breaking glass while he was in the back of the store.
“He entered and began firing,” according to Gill. We successfully exited via the rear entrance. I had to leave because I was at home with my wife and children.