During the encounter, Jones shot at and damaged a police robot providing surveillance to the responding officers, Hollenbeck said. In the commotion, a police dog was shot and ran into the woods and remained missing later Wednesday.
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The shootings occurred Wednesday morning in a rural, wooded area near Hackett, a town of about 800 residents.
Sheriff’s Cpl. William “Bill” Cooper was shot in the neck after responding to the report of a domestic disturbance near Greenwood, NBC News reported. Hackett Police Chief Darrell Spells was also shot and suffered superficial wounds.
Presidential candidate Donald Trump also tweeted about the shootings saying “My thoughts and prayers are with the two police officers shot in Sebastian County, Arkansas”.
“On behalf of all Arkansans, I want to extend our heartfelt condolences to Deputy Cooper’s loved ones and our entire law enforcement community”.
“Today’s shooting incident. tragically illustrates the dangers our law enforcement officers face each and every day to keep us safe”, Hutchinson said in a statement.
He identified the gunman as 35-year-old Billy Monroe Jones. The father claimed Jones had pulled a gun on him.
Cooper died later at an area hospital. He was around age 65 and was planning to retire soon, Hollenbeck said. Jones had a hearing scheduled for Wednesday at a court in nearby Fort Smith to have a previous suspended sentence reviewed and possibly revoked, Hollenbeck said. Cooper underwent several surgeries but was pronounced dead at around 1:15 p.m., the sheriff said.
The suspected shooter surrendered after a standoff with officers about 11:45 a.m. and was arrested. Sebastian County Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck told reporters that he may have also been wearing some sort of ballistic vest.
“We have limited information as to why this has happened”, Hollenbeck said, adding that investigators are “looking into” the possibility that this was a planned attack.
Yes, law officers make bad mistakes and at times behave badly with deadly consequences, Sebastian County Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck said.
Hollenbeck declined any further questions and quickly left the scene to go to a hospital to visit the deputy.
Sebastian County Sheriff’s Lt. Philip Pevehouse tells Fort Smith television station KHBS that negotiators are attempting the reach the suspect.
Pevehouse says the man’s father called police earlier Wednesday asking officers to check in on his son, but he didn’t release details about the call.
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Gov. Asa Hutchinson mourned the loss, which comes after the deliberate shootings this summer of police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
