On Friday, a gunman opened fire at a grocery store in Arkansas, resulting in three fatalities and 10 injuries, including two law enforcement officers. The suspect was wounded during a shootout with police, according to Arkansas State Police Director Mike Hagar, as reported by Reuters.
Around 11:30 a.m., a shooting took place at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, a town with approximately 3,200 residents situated 65 miles (104 kilometers) south of Little Rock.
The authorities have named the alleged shooter as 44-year-old Travis Eugene Posey from New Edinburg. He has been arrested and is facing three capital murder charges, with additional charges pending. As of now, no court date has been scheduled, according to the inmate roster.
The state police spokesperson was uncertain about whether Posey had legal representation, and the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Office indicated that they lacked any relevant information.
Neither the officers’ nor Posey’s injuries were life threatening. The remaining injuries ranged from “not life-threatening to extremely critical,” Hagar said.
During a news conference on Friday, Arkansas Department of Public Safety Director Mike Hagar reported that responding officers wounded the suspected shooter, whose injuries were not life-threatening. Additionally, the two officers who were shot also sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The remaining injuries ranged from “not life-threatening to extremely critical,” Hagar said. “It’s tragic, our hearts are broken,” he said.
In 2022, a white supremacist killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket, which was the backdrop for the latest mass shooting. This incident occurred just over a year after another shooting at a Boulder, Colorado, supermarket, where 10 people lost their lives.
The police haven’t confirmed yet whether the shooting happened inside or outside the store. Hagar mentioned that they plan to provide additional details later this evening.
#Breaking News: Fordyce Grocery Store Shooting
Multiple shooters are reported to be involved in a shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, Arkansas. Early reports indicate 8 people were wounded, with one of the suspects also being injured.
Police have contained… pic.twitter.com/ecYrT4K9FO
— Breaking News (@TheNewsTrending) June 21, 2024
A video shared on social media depicted someone lying in the parking lot, with the sound of multiple gunshots audible in the background.
Reporters’ images revealed numerous bullet holes in the grocery store’s window. In the video footage, local and state agencies were visible responding to the scene, and at least one medical helicopter landed nearby.
“I am thankful to law enforcement and first responders for their quick and heroic action to save lives,” Sanders posted on the social media platform X. “My prayers are with the victims and all those impacted by this.”
While refueling his car at a Fordyce gas station, 58-year-old David Rodriguez mistook the sounds coming from a nearby vendor’s stand for fireworks.
“We heard a few little pops,” he said.
As the Mad Butcher grocery store patrons fled into the parking lot, David Rodriguez noticed someone on the ground. Swiftly, he pulled out his phone and started recording a video just before the gunfire intensified.
As law enforcement arrived, chaos erupted: gunfire echoed, ambulances raced to the scene, and bullets seemed to fill the air.
ALSO READ | 9 Wounded in Michigan Splash Pad Shooting, Including Child Aged 8
