ASP UPDATE: Fordyce shooting at grocery store leaves four dead, 15 injured

UPDATE from the Arkansas State Police, June 23, 2024, 9 p.m.:

On Sunday, June 23, 2024, Arkansas State Police Colonel Mike Hagar briefed the media on the latest developments related to a Fordyce grocery store shooting that occurred Friday, June 21, 2024.

An additional victim from the shooting was identified late Saturday, bringing the total number of people injured from gunfire to 15. People injured by gunfire included 12 civilians, two law enforcement officers, and the suspect.

Those killed in the shooting were all civilians. They were:

Shirley Taylor, 62
Callie Weems, 23
Roy Sturgis, 50
Ellen Shrum, 81

Five female and three male civilians, ranging in age from 20 to 65, survived injuries sustained in the shooting. Five of those individuals remain hospitalized, including a woman who is in critical condition at UAMS in Little Rock. Three of the injured civilians were treated and released from the Dallas County Medical Center on Friday.

Six officers working for the Fordyce Police Department and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office were on the scene during the incident. Four additional Fordyce Police officers and an off-duty officer employed by the Stuttgart Police Department arrived on scene after the suspect was taken into custody.

Jacob Murry, 26, an officer who serves both the Fordyce Police Department and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, was treated Friday for minor injuries related to gunfire. Fordyce Police Officer James Johnson, 31, was released from a Little Rock hospital Saturday evening after being treated for a gunshot wound.

Stuttgart Police Officer John Hudson, 24, received minor injuries unrelated to gunfire. He rendered medical aid to an injured individual after the incident had concluded. Hudson was previously incorrectly included as an officer with injuries related to gunfire.

Suspect Travis Eugene Posey (pictured), 44, of New Edinburg, will be charged with four counts of capital murder. Additional charges are pending. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement. Posey was released to ASP custody and transported to the Ouachita County Detention Center, where he remains.

ASP’s Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the shooting.

Image: Ouachita County Sheriff’s Department

UPDATE from the Arkansas State Police, June 21, 2024, 8:25 p.m.:

SUSPECTED SHOOTER NAMED IN FORDYCE GROCERY STORE SHOOTING

FORDYCE, Ark. — Arkansas State Police (ASP) has named the suspected shooter in today’s Fordyce grocery store shooting as Travis Eugene Posey, 44, of New Edinburg.

Posey will be charged with three counts of Capital Murder. Additional charges are pending. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement, released to ASP custody, and transported to the Ouachita County Detention Center.

Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is investigating a shooting that occurred on Friday, June 21, 2024, at approximately 11:38 a.m. at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce.

Fourteen people were injured from gunfire, including 11 civilians – three of whom were fatally wounded. Two of the 14 were law enforcement officers; their injuries are not considered life-threatening. The suspected shooter, who is in custody, was also shot and sustained injuries that are regarded as non-life-threatening.

The civilian victims’ injuries range from non-life threatening to extremely critical.

“It’s tragic, and our hearts are broken,” said Col. Mike Hagar. “Our prayers, along with Governor Sanders and the entire state of Arkansas, will be with this community and those affected victims.”

“I have been briefed on the tragic shooting in Fordyce, and I’m in constant contact with State Police at the scene. I am thankful to law enforcement and first responders for their quick and heroic action to save lives. My prayers are with the victims and all those impacted by this,” said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

ASP is asking anyone with information to call (870) 850-8630.