Three officials have confirmed that an officer-involved shooting took place in Stone County on Thursday, July 18.
The officer-involved shooting occurred near the area of the Stone County and Van Buren County line.
Two people are dead, including a Stone County Sheriff's Deputy, and one woman is injured, according to Arkansas State Police. The officer involved in the shooting is deputy Mike Stephen. The woman did not suffer life-threatening injuries.
According to Arkansas State Police spokesperson Bill Sadler, Lt. Stephen was responding to a domestic welfare check at a house in Leslie, around 8:40 a.m. on Thursday.
Shortly after talking with a woman outside the house, gunfire erupted. Stephen was killed at the scene.
Sadler said police are working to identify the suspect, who also died.
The woman was wounded with what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries. She was driven to a local hospital.
Stone County Chief Deputy Zachary Alexander said Stephen was a 20-year veteran of law enforcement, as well as a U.S. Army veteran and the chief of the Pineville Fire Department.
Senator Tom Cotton released a statement that says, "Today, the State of Arkansas mourns the loss of a brave law-enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Mike Stephen protected the people of Stone County, standing as part of the thin blue line separating our communities from crime and chaos. I encourage all Arkansans to pray for and comfort his family, friends, and neighbors during this moment of loss.”
An investigation is currently underway.
We will update when further info is provided.