FORDYCE, AR - Travis Posey, 44, carried out a devastating shooting attack on the Mad Butcher store in Fordyce on Friday morning, after which he was shot by police during a lengthy shootout.
Posey's rampage left four innocent people dead with as many as an additional fourteen wounded in some reports, including two police officers and the gunman himself. The names of the deceased have been listed as Shirley Taylor, 62; Callie Weems, 23; Roy Sturgis, 50; and Ellen Shrum, 81.
As reported by The Arkansas Times, Posey, of New Edinburg was arrested after suffering a non-life-threatening gunshot wound in the shootout with police. He is being charged with three counts of capital murder with additional charges pending and is being held in Arkansas State Police custody at the Ouachita County jail in nearby Camden.
The New York Post provided some background on Posey, who has a previous criminal record for possessing a handgun at the gates of a military base in upstate New York in 2011 and was reportedly a trucker by profession as indicated by US Dept. of Transporation documentation.
Mike Hagar, the Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety and Director of the State Police, explained at a press conference that police received multiple calls to 911 at approximately 11:38 a.m. Friday reporting the shooting at the Mad Butcher. Police were dispatched and engaged Posey in the store's parking lot. Two officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries before neutralizing the assailant.
Many people who fled to nearby storefronts and a nearby gas station recorded the incident. The footage has gone viral.
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ : The following video contains graphic, violent content that viewers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.
Officers and paramedics soon descended on the store to find three people dead and several victims in critical condition.
A witness, who works at Holt Builder's Supply just across the street, spoke to Fox News, telling the outlet, he heard "several rounds" and saw victims getting medevaced from the crime scene. He told reporters, "multiple agencies were down here trying to figure out what was going on. We saw policemen running around the pharmacy, which is right next door to the Mad Butcher."
Hagar said that as of Friday Posey's motive was unclear. “It’s tragic, our hearts are broken,” he said. "Our prayers, along with Governor Sanders and the entire state of Arkansas, will be with this community and those affected victims."
In a post to X, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed thanks to the police for ending the mass shooting and offered her prayers for the victims and families. She wrote, "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 horrific incident."
Posey's rampage left four innocent people dead with as many as an additional fourteen wounded in some reports, including two police officers and the gunman himself. The names of the deceased have been listed as Shirley Taylor, 62; Callie Weems, 23; Roy Sturgis, 50; and Ellen Shrum, 81.
As reported by The Arkansas Times, Posey, of New Edinburg was arrested after suffering a non-life-threatening gunshot wound in the shootout with police. He is being charged with three counts of capital murder with additional charges pending and is being held in Arkansas State Police custody at the Ouachita County jail in nearby Camden.
The New York Post provided some background on Posey, who has a previous criminal record for possessing a handgun at the gates of a military base in upstate New York in 2011 and was reportedly a trucker by profession as indicated by US Dept. of Transporation documentation.
BREAKING NEWS: Suspect in Fordyce shooting identified as Travis Posey according to Ouachita County Sheriff's department... Sheriff Norwood says he was grazed in the head. #ARnews @FOX16News pic.twitter.com/DuYQZ4cmI3
— Kevin Kelly (@kkelly16) June 22, 2024
Mike Hagar, the Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety and Director of the State Police, explained at a press conference that police received multiple calls to 911 at approximately 11:38 a.m. Friday reporting the shooting at the Mad Butcher. Police were dispatched and engaged Posey in the store's parking lot. Two officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries before neutralizing the assailant.
Many people who fled to nearby storefronts and a nearby gas station recorded the incident. The footage has gone viral.
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ : The following video contains graphic, violent content that viewers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.
🇺🇸🚨‼️ BREAKING: The victim count in the mass shooting in Fordyce, Arkansas, has risen to 14 total that were shot, of which 4 died.
— TabZ (@TabZLIVE) June 21, 2024
The Arkansas State Police spokesman reported that 14 total people have been shot, which includes 11 civilians (3 dead), 2 officers, and the mass… https://t.co/jOSIVgJ2d0 pic.twitter.com/K6nYceqev8
Officers and paramedics soon descended on the store to find three people dead and several victims in critical condition.
A witness, who works at Holt Builder's Supply just across the street, spoke to Fox News, telling the outlet, he heard "several rounds" and saw victims getting medevaced from the crime scene. He told reporters, "multiple agencies were down here trying to figure out what was going on. We saw policemen running around the pharmacy, which is right next door to the Mad Butcher."
Hagar said that as of Friday Posey's motive was unclear. “It’s tragic, our hearts are broken,” he said. "Our prayers, along with Governor Sanders and the entire state of Arkansas, will be with this community and those affected victims."
In a post to X, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed thanks to the police for ending the mass shooting and offered her prayers for the victims and families. She wrote, "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 horrific incident."
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