SHERIDAN, Arkansas — An investigation is underway into an incident at the Sheridan Heights Apartments that happened on Monday afternoon.
According to reports, just before 3:00 p.m. there was both a fire and a shooting at the apartment complex.
On July 10, the Sheridan Police Department responded to a shooting at the Sheridan Heights Estates Apartments on 601 S. Eagle St.
Upon arrival, officers located a black male lying on a flight of stairs with multiple gunshot wounds.
Eyewitnesses stated that the shooter was at the north end of the building.
While approaching the apartment the shooter was thought to be in, officers detected the strong odor of an accelerant, followed by a blast.
According to reports, apartment #15 burst into flames and fire began to spread out of the front and toward the second story of the building.
The fire department was dispatched as officers began evacuating all tenants in the building.
Once the fire was extinguished, officials made entry into the apartment and located one deceased victim along with the suspect barricaded in the bathroom.
The suspect, identified as 79-year-old Ryan Hodges was transported to a local hospital for treatment and taken into custody.
He has been charged with first-degree murder, arson, and first-degree battery.
The two victims were later identified as Katharyn Barraclough Linker, the deceased apartment manager, and a maintenance worker.
An initial investigation revealed that they were at the suspect's apartment for a routine inspection at the time of the incident.
During the inspection, the suspect fired multiple rounds, striking both victims before setting the apartment on fire.
The maintenance worker was able to escape the apartment and has been hospitalized for his injuries.
This investigation is currently ongoing. We will continue to update this article with more information as soon as it becomes available.