SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 Press Release

Two separate shooting incidents in Paris (Logan County) earlier today preliminarily appear to be connected as murder-suicide. Local law enforcement authorities have asked the Arkansas State Police to investigate the incidents.

About noontime Paris police officers responded to 1305 East Walnut Street and found George A. Poole, 22, an employee at a drive-in restaurant shot. Poole was pronounced dead at the scene.

A short time later, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a location on Kalamazoo Road, about five miles from the restaurant, where they encountered Joshua D. Malagon, sitting inside a parked vehicle. Malagon, 20, who had been identified as a suspect in the earlier shooting refused commands from the deputies to exit the vehicle.

When deputies heard a single gunshot from inside the vehicle, they approached and found Malagon wounded and began providing life-saving measures until emergency medical personnel arrived on-scene. Malagon was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The bodies of Poole and Malagon are being transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory where the manner and cause of death will be determined.

Special agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division were called to Paris to begin an investigation of both deaths. Upon completion of their investigation, a case file will be turned over to the Logan County prosecuting attorney for review.