GRANT COUNTY, Ark. — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office released new information about a Thursday, March 28 disturbance that left one man dead, and led to a shootout between deputies and the suspect.
The sheriff’s office said 45-year-old Patrick Massey died from injuries he suffered prior to their arrival.
Philip Reynolds, 51, is charged with two counts of attempted capital murder in connection with the case. Detectives expect Reynolds will face additional charges as their investigation continues.
Deputies responded to reports of an armed disturbance in the area of Grant County Road 213 and County Road 19 just after 2:40 p.m. Upon arrival, they found one man in a ditch suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg.
While helping that man, deputies say Reynolds opened fire on them. They moved the victim to a safe location, where MEMS transported him to a hospital for further treatment.
Moments later, Reynolds fired at deputies again, according to a GCSO press release. Deputies fired back and struck Reynolds, who then ran into the woods, they said. He was taken into custody and transported to the hospital by helicopter following a brief stand-off.
Investigators believe Massey died from injuries related to the initial disturbance. Deputies found his body while clearing the scene following the stand-off.
Family and friends told THV11 that Massey was a hardworking truck driver and father of two. They say he left his home down the street from Reynolds’ to run an errand, but never came home.
On Friday, Alstin Beck was still processing what happened at his neighbor’s home one day before. He considered Massey a friend.
“[He was] the friend anyone would want, would give the shirt off his back to anybody,” Beck said. “He was worried about [Reynolds]. That’s why he went back there to check on him.”
Beck, 19, said he was also attacked by Reynolds on Thursday afternoon while attempting to go fishing outside his home.
“He asked if I would go to the tobacco store, get him some tobacco and stuff,” Beck said.
Beck agreed, and said that Reynolds began “talking gibberish” once he returned from the store.
“About that time, I went to go walk out the house. He grabbed me and went to beating on me,” Beck said. “I got up, hit the road. I went to go come back and get the car and he pulled the shotgun out and said ‘you gotta go or I'm going to get you,’ and that's when I took off running,”
Beck got word of the shooting at Reynolds’ house as he received help from neighbors down the street.
“It's too close to home, too close to family and stuff. I knew every one of them,” he said of the people involved.
No deputies were injured during the shootout, but are on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, as is standard procedure for the sheriff’s office. On Thursday, Sheriff Ray Vance said Arkansas State Police will assist his office with the investigation.