Fordyce, Arkansas – A tragic incident unfolded on a Friday morning at a grocery store in Fordyce, Arkansas, resulting in three fatalities and 11 individuals sustaining injuries, including the suspect and two law enforcement officers, as reported by Arkansas State Police.
During an afternoon press conference near the scene, ASP Director Mike Hagar disclosed that both the suspect and the law enforcement officers had non-life-threatening injuries. The conditions of the other victims varied, ranging from non-life-threatening to critically severe.
Identified later on Friday by Fordyce Police Chief Chad Eubanks as Travis “Joey” Posey, the suspected shooter was revealed to be Travis Posey, 44, according to a booking record on the Ouachita County Sheriff’s jail website. Posey faces three counts of first-degree murder, as indicated by the inmate search site VINELink.
The shooting occurred around 11:30 a.m. at the Mad Butcher, situated within a small shopping center at 920 W. 4th Street in Fordyce, Arkansas. With a population of 3,238 in 2022, Fordyce is approximately an hour south of Little Rock in Dallas County.
Despite not disclosing the identities of the deceased, wounded, or the shooter during the 4 p.m. press conference, Hagar reassured the public that there was no ongoing threat to the community, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic turn of events.
Additionally, Anna Morshedi of Greater Little Rock Moms Demand Action and Insherah Qazi, a member of the Students Demand Action National Organizing Board, issued statements following the shooting, urging action to combat the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. Their calls underscored the need for stricter gun safety measures across the nation to prevent such senseless acts of violence.
Arkansas, known for having some of the weakest gun laws in the country, faces challenges with gun-related incidents like the one in Fordyce. Calls for greater legislative action to address these issues resound, as communities grapple with the repercussions of such tragedies.