Four people were killed and another 10 were wounded in a shooting at a Fordyce, Arkansas grocery store on June 21, according to the Arkansas State Police.
The suspected shooter, identified as Travis Eugene Posey, 44, of New Edinburg, was also wounded in a subsequent shoot-out with police and was taken into custody, Arkansas State Police Director Mike Hagar said in a press conference later that day.
Posey was treated for “non-threatening injuries” he sustained during a shootout and was released into police custody. He is currently held at the Ouachita County Detention Center.
According to a June 21 press release from the Arkansas State Police, police and sheriff’s deputies responded to the Mad Butcher at around 11:38 a.m. after receiving multiple reports of shots fired.
Responding officers immediately exchanged fire with the suspect as he exited the store. Two officers were wounded in the shootout, however, Hagar said that their injuries were not life-threatening.
Three people were killed at the scene and a fourth was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The four victims were later identified as 50-year-old Roy Sturgis, 62-year-old Shirley Taylor, 81-year-old Ellen Shrum, and 23-year-old nurse Callie Weems, who Hagar said heroically provided aid to the wounded before she was killed.
Hagar described Weems’ actions as among “the most selfless acts I’ve ever seen.”
According to Hagar, Posey was armed with a 12-gauge shotgun and a handgun. He also was equipped with a bandolier containing dozens of extra 12-gauge rounds.
Hagar told reporters that Posey began firing at people in the parking lot before he entered the Mad Butcher. Once in the store, he started firing “indiscriminately” at the people inside.
Responding law enforcement from the Fordyce Police Department and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office arrived within minutes and exchanged gunfire with Posey when he exited the store.
Posey faces four counts of capital murder as well as other charges.
