Article Summary –

A gunman opened fire in a grocery store in Fordyce, Arkansas, killing three people and injuring 10 others. The man, identified as 44-year-old Travis Eugene Posey, ended up in a shootout with police, wounding two officers before being apprehended. It was one of at least 234 mass shootings to have taken place in the US in 2024, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.

Grocery Store Shooting in Arkansas Town Terrifies Families

Shoppers at a local grocery store in a small Arkansas town were sent into a panic on Friday, as the sound of gunfire echoed through the store. The shoppers were forced to either seek cover or hide in a freezer amidst the terrifying situation, triggered by an unexpected shooting incident.

Katrina Doherty, shopping with her children, initially believed she heard the sound of a falling object, but quickly realized shots were being fired when she saw glass shattering and a person falling to the ground.

David Rodriguez, outside at a nearby gas station, initially thought the “pops” he heard were fireworks, until he noticed the grocery store’s front windows shattered by gunfire. He witnessed panicked shoppers fleeing from the scene as gunfire continued.

A man opened fire at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, resulting in three deaths and ten injuries. Law enforcement responded around 11:30 a.m., exchanging gunfire with the lone suspect, as reported by the Arkansas State Police.

A cellphone video captured a man in the parking lot aiming a long gun and firing in multiple directions. Unable to find an escape route, Doherty, along with others present in the store, sought refuge in a freezer. In the midst of the terrifying situation, Doherty managed to reunite with her children and hide in the freezer. She heard about nine or ten rounds before reaching the icy shelter.

Despite being in the safety of the freezer, Doherty and others could still hear gunshots. It was a surreal experience for Doherty’s daughter, who asked her mother to pinch her, hoping that this was not real to which Doherty replied confirming the situation’s reality. Amidst the chaos, they tried to call 911, but found no service. They stayed inside the freezer, some praying, others crying, enduring the chilling cold.

Doherty recalls the traumatic experience of being in the freezer. They saw a dead body right outside when a worker opened the freezer door. They remained inside the freezer until they heard the police outside and were then escorted out of the store. Once out of the store, Doherty finally reunited with her twin daughters who were waiting outside in a car during the shooting.

This incident is among the 21 mass shootings recorded since last Friday in the country. There have been at least 234 mass shootings in the United States in 2024, as per the Gun Violence Archive data. Matthew Gill, the meat manager at the Mad Butcher, revealed that a man entered the store with a shotgun and ended up in a shootout with the police. Two police officers got wounded in the gunfire. The suspected shooter, identified as Travis Eugene Posey, was also wounded and taken into custody.

Posey, a resident of New Edinburg, is expected to be charged with three counts of capital murder, with additional charges pending, according to an Arkansas State Police news release. The injuries to the officers and the suspect are not considered life-threatening, as per Mike Hagar, the secretary of public safety and director of Arkansas State Police. He confirmed that the situation was under control and there were no active threats to the community.

On the outside, Posey was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement, and was transported to the Ouachita County Detention Center. Meanwhile, inside the store, the civilians left behind faced injuries varying from non-life-threatening to extremely critical.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas was briefed about the tragic shooting incident and has been in constant contact with state police at the scene. Fordyce City Council Member Roderick Rogers, who was on the phone with someone in the store during the shooting, expressed the traumatic experience. Counseling is being arranged for the survivors of the shooting who are in shock, according to Rogers.

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