Eric Varner and Eugene Watlington Biography, Wiki
Lt. Eric Varner and Detective Eugene Watlington identified as the two police officers who were injured in a deadly shooting at Arkansas Walmart. The two officers are expected to recover and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
The prayers of the ASP are with the 2 Forrest City officers that were injured this morning in a shooting at Walmart.
The ASP Criminal Investigation Division has been requested to conduct an investigation of the incident. Please stay away from the area if at all possible.
— AR State Police (@ARStatePolice) February 10, 2020
One officer has been airlifted to a regional hospital, while the other was taken to a local hospital. Forrest City Chief of Police Deon Lee told reporters at a Monday afternoon press conference that the officer who was transported to a hospital is in surgery but is expected to recover. The second was hospitalized locally and has been released.
Shooting at Arkansas Walmart
A man who opened fire and shot two police officers in a Walmart in Forrest City, Arkansas, on Monday morning is dead, Mayor Cedric Williams told reporters.
Shooting Suspect
Lee said that the suspect had a criminal record, but nothing that would have led police to believe he was capable of shooting.
Two officers shot, suspect killed in shooting at Arkansas Walmart
Two officers were shot and a suspect was killed in a shooting Monday morning at a Walmart in Forrest City, Arkansas, reports CBS affiliate WREG. Law enforcement tells the station two police officers were called to the store in Forrest City, about 85 miles east of Little Rock, after the suspect began making threats.
The station reports, The suspect reportedly said he was going to blow up the Walmart. The officers approached the suspect, and that’s when shots were fired.
Investigations
On Monday afternoon, the Arkansas State Police, the agency that has taken over the investigation, shared a tweet offering prayers for the two officers who were injured in the Monday morning shooting.
Suspect Killed in Shooting at Arkansas Walmart
The suspect, whose name has not been released, died at the store on Deaderick Road.
NOW: We just arrived to the Walmart in Forrest City. Chaotic out here as several officers blocked this area off and people trying to figure out what’s going on. Police say two officers were shot and the suspect is dead. @3onyourside pic.twitter.com/6F7B6DdV9u
— Joneé Lewis WREG (@JoneeLewisTV) February 10, 2020
According to WREG, The suspect died and the two officers were both reportedly struck by gunfire. One was airlifted to a medical center while the other is still on the scene.
Authorities are working to secure the scene, police said.
“I’m scared,” said Kim Bery, an employee who answered the phone at an autoparts store across the street from the Walmart, according to the Associated Press.
Bery said she could see a lot of police presence at the Walmart and that Walmart employees appeared to have been evacuated into the parking lot.
Investigation Report
The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division has been called in to investigate, a state police spokesman told CBS News. The ATF was also responding.
A Walmart spokesman told CBS News: “We are aware of the incident that took place at our store in Forrest City, AR this morning. We will continue to work with the Forrest City Police Department to assist in their investigation.”
The other officer was brought to a Memphis hospital. Police Chief Deon Lee says that officer is in surgery and expected to be OK.
Forrest City Fire Department is asking the community to avoid Deaderick Road until further notice as it is closed for the investigation.