June 23, 2024
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 from 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, 23Roy 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, 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.