HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — An Arkansas prosecuting attorney has determined that the use of deadly force was justified in the fatal shooting of 35-year-old Aaron Watson during an incident with an Arkansas State Police (ASP) trooper and three Benton police officers.
According to a press release, the decision came from the Sixth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney in relation to the deadly incident that occurred on Jan. 1, 2024.
Authorities said that Watson was wanted by the US Marshals Service and was driving a car with fake plates.
Reports said that Watson was shot after leading the officers on a high-speed chase that began in Benton and ended in Little Rock.
The incident happened around 2:04 p.m. on Jan. 1, with officers pursuing Watson who was driving a 1996 BMW. During the pursuit, troopers ended the chase by performing a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI), also known as a PIT maneuver.
The chase was stopped on the I-30 service road near the University Avenue exit in Little Rock. Once the pursuit came to a conclusion, officers say that Watson allegedly fired at them, which caused them to shoot back.
Watson was pronounced dead at the scene following the altercation.
ASP Troopers and Benton Police officers involved in the incident were not injured.
