Arkansas police officer fatally shoots Texas jail escapee

TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — Authorities say an inmate who escaped from a northeast Texas jail was fatally shot by an Arkansas police officer after the inmate tussled with another officer over a gun.

The inmate was one of two who were discovered missing early Monday from the Bowie County Jail annex in Texarkana, Texas, a city on the state’s border with Arkansas about 165 miles northeast of Dallas.

About 1 p.m. Monday, two Texarkana, Arkansas, police officers encountered the inmates and tried to take them into custody.

According to Arkansas State Police, one of the inmates tried to grab an officer’s gun, causing it to fire, so the other police officer fatally shot the inmate.

Read the official statement from the Arkansas State Police that was issued last night:

ARREST OF TEXAS ESCAPEES ENDS IN SHOOTING INCIDENT; ONE INMATE DEAD

MARCH 21, 2022

A Bowie County, Texas escapee was shot today while being taken into custody.  The escapee was pronounced dead at the scene.  The identity of the inmate is being withheld, pending family notification procedures.

The incident involved two Texarkana (Arkansas) police officers.  Officials of the local police department have requested the Arkansas State Police to investigate the use of deadly force by one of the officers.

About 1 PM (March 21), one of the Texarkana police officers located the escapees outside 210 East Street.  Subsequently, both officers approached the pair in an attempt to apprehend the escapees.  While one officer was taking an escapee into custody, the second officer was met with resistance by the other inmate who began to fight with the officer and attempted to gain control of the second officer’s gun.

During the struggle the gun was fired, causing the first officer to shoot the inmate fighting with the second officer.

The body of the deceased inmate will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory to confirm the cause and manner of death.

Special Agents of the state police Criminal Investigation Division are continuing to collect statements from witnesses and evidence associated with the shooting.

The investigative case file prepared by the state police will be submitted to the Miller County prosecuting attorney who will determine whether the use of deadly force by a law enforcement officer in the incident was consistent with Arkansas laws.

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