UPDATED - Sunday, 8:07 P.M. CDT:
Arkansas State Police say a fourth victim died Saturday night. She’s identified as 81-year-old Ellen Shrum.
Officials are crediting the quick response and training by law enforcement with stopping the shooting less than five minutes after the first shot was fired. State Police director Colonel Mike Hagar called the officers’ response “heroic.”
At a media briefing on Sunday afternoon, Hagar said alleged gunman Travis Posey was armed with a 12-gauge shotgun along with a bandolier with dozens of extra shotgun rounds. “We believe he immediately began engaging victims in the parking lot after exiting his truck, and then proceeded into the store.
Once inside, he was firing indiscriminately at both customers and employees. When law enforcement arrived on scene, the suspect exited the store, and the officers redirected his attention towards them and immediately engaged in a firefight with, or as he immediately engaged in a firefight with law enforcement, where they were able to stop the threat.” In all, 15 people were wounded in the attack, including Posey, and 12 civilians. The survivors range in age between 20 and 65. Four victims are still hospitalized, including a woman who is in critical condition.
Police say that Posey’s motive remains unclear. But he did not appear to have any personal connection to any of the victims. Posey is set to appear in court on Monday and is expected to face four counts of capital murder.
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ORIGINAL STORY – Saturday, June 22, 2024 at: 10:24 PM CDT:
Three people are dead after a mass shooting at an Arkansas grocery store. Police say the suspected gunman opened fire in Fordyce, a city of 3,200 people, about 65 miles south of Little Rock. Department of Public Safety Director Col. Mike Hagar, spoke to the media, saying the suspect was shot. Two responding officers were also injured. “The injuries to the officers and the suspect,” Hagar began, “are not considered life threatening. The remaining civilian injuries range from non-life threatening to extremely critical.” Hagar called the shooting tragic and heart-breaking.
Shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Friday, several law enforcement agencies, including Arkansas State Police (ASP) and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene near the Mad Butcher grocery store, located on West 4th Street in Fordyce.
Authorities identified the shooting suspect as 44-year-old Travis Eugene Posey of New Edinburg, a community 10 miles southeast of Fordyce. Investigators say after Posey exchanged gunfire with law enforcement, officers arrested him. State Police say Posey was treated for his injuries and then transferred to the Ouachita County Detention Center.
On Friday, the first victim of the shooting was identified as 23-year-old Callie Weems. She worked as a nurse at the Dallas County Medical Center Family Clinic and leaves behind a 10-month-old daughter.
The family of the second victim, 63-year-old Shirley Kay Taylor of Fordyce, provided photos of the proud grandmother.
The Benton Funeral Home posted an obituary for the third victim, 50-year-old Roy Burton Sturgis of Kingsland, 12 miles northeast of Fordyce.
ASP asks anyone with information on the case to call (870) 850-8630. The agency posted on its website that ASP Col. Mike Hagar will hold a media briefing at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday to provide more information on the case.
