ALMA, Ark. — On Friday, May 16, 2025, at approximately 6:30 a.m., Arkansas State Police (ASP) received a report of a reckless driver near the 7-mile marker eastbound on Interstate 40 near Van Buren. Troopers suspected this vehicle was connected to an earlier domestic disturbance and aggravated robbery in Fort Smith.
The suspect stopped at the Hilltop Travel Center in Alma and entered the store. ASP Troopers and Crawford County Deputies responded to the scene. An altercation occurred between the suspect and law enforcement, during which the suspect produced a handgun and fled.
Officers pursued the suspect, repeatedly commanding him to drop his weapon. The suspect faced the officers while still armed, and refused to comply. ASP Troopers fired their weapons, fatally striking the suspect.
No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident.
The deceased will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the manner and cause of death.
ASP’s Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the shooting and will submit a case file to the Crawford County Prosecuting Attorney, who will determine whether lethal force was consistent with Arkansas law.