Shooting at grocery store in Arkansas kills 3 and wounds 10 others, police say

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A shooter who opened hearth Friday at a grocery retailer in Arkansas left the shop and parked automobiles riddled with bullet holes as bystanders ducked for canopy each indoors and within the parking zone, killing 3 individuals and wounding 10 others, authorities stated.

The wounded included two legislation enforcement officers who exchanged hearth with and shot the suspect, state police stated. The taking pictures occurred about 11:30 a.m. on the Mad Butcher grocery retailer in Fordyce, a metropolis of about 3,200 individuals situated 65 miles (104 kilometers) south of Little Rock.

“It’s tragic, our hearts are damaged,” Col. Mike Hagar, director of the Arkansas State Police and public security secretary, informed reporters Friday.

Police recognized the suspected shooter as 44-year-old Travis Eugene Posey of New Edinburg. He was taken to jail and charged with three counts of capital homicide, whereas different expenses are nonetheless pending. No court docket date had been set, in response to the inmate roster.

A state police spokesperson didn’t know if Posey had an legal professional, and the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Workplace stated it had no info.

Neither the officers’ nor Posey’s accidents have been life threatening. The remaining accidents ranged from “not life-threatening to extraordinarily crucial,” Hagar stated.

It’s the most recent mass taking pictures the place a grocery retailer is its backdrop. A white supremacist in 2022 killed 10 Black individuals at a Buffalo grocery store. That taking pictures got here slightly greater than a 12 months after one at a Boulder, Colorado, grocery store, the place 10 individuals have been killed.

Police didn’t instantly say whether or not the taking pictures occurred inside or outdoors the shop. Police didn’t determine the victims and haven’t launched a motive for the taking pictures.

Roderick Rogers, a member of town council, stated he known as the county sheriff when workers at his restaurant close by notified him of the taking pictures.

Rogers stated when he obtained there, he noticed individuals working for canopy in each course, even one working to the hospital close by.

“Folks have been simply leaping into automobiles to get to security,” Rogers stated.

Video posted on social media confirmed no less than one particular person mendacity within the parking zone, whereas one other captured a number of gunshots ringing out.

Amiya Doherty stated she was in her mom’s automobile within the grocery retailer’s parking zone when she heard what she was thought was fireworks. When she noticed a person holding a gun and firing, she stated she ducked out of view.

“I held my sister’s hand and I informed her I like her,” Doherty informed Little Rock tv station KATV.

Photographs from reporters on the scene confirmed a slew of bullet holes within the grocery retailer’s window, and spent shell casings strewn all through the parking zone. In video footage, native and state companies could possibly be seen responding to the scene, with no less than one medical helicopter touchdown close by.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated she had been briefed on the taking pictures.

“I’m grateful to legislation enforcement and first responders for his or her fast and heroic motion to save lots of lives,” Sanders posted on the social media platform X. “My prayers are with the victims and all these impacted by this.”

The White Home stated President Joe Biden has been briefed on the taking pictures and his group will proceed to maintain him up to date.

David Rodriguez, 58, had stopped at his native gasoline station in Fordyce to replenish his automobile when he heard what he thought have been fireworks from a close-by vendor’s stand.

“We heard a couple of little pops,” he stated.

He then noticed individuals working from the Mad Butcher grocery retailer into the parking zone, and one particular person mendacity on the bottom. He started recording video along with his cellphone earlier than the gunfire escalated.

“The police began to point out up, after which there was large gunfire and ambulances pulling up,” he stated. “The bullets have been simply flying.”

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Related Press reporters Beatrice Dupuy in New York and Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed to this report

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