FORDYCE, Arkansas — It's been four months since a mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce left four people dead and ten more injured.
It's a day those involved will never forget, and now the city is moving to memorialize the day so that no one forgets.
The community of Fordyce gathered for prayers and a goodbye at the Mad Butcher as another step forward for the families of those who were killed.
On June 21, 2024, several people were injured and four people were killed while they were at the only grocery store in Fordyce.
Since then, memorial crosses have stood in front of the store as a way to remember those who lost their lives— Callie Weems, Roy Sturgis, Shirley Taylor, and Ellen Shrum.
Now, they are being moved.
Family and loved ones gathered to pray over the crosses and soon they will be relocated to the city's museum.
"This is important for our kids to know how tragic it was here in Fordyce," explained Fordyce Mayor John MacNichol.
The tragic mass shooting is something that no one in the city ever hoped would have happened. But in the face of tragedy, they felt the love and support from around Arkansas as the city united and became Fordyce Strong.
"The citizens have pulled together and made this thing so fantastic that it's just so unbelievable. I just cannot describe how everything went," said Mayor MacNichol.
While the crosses will soon be moved, the city plans to put a permanent memorial in front of the Mad Butcher. They are still finalizing those details.
The accused gunman, Travis Posey, is charged with the shootings and has pleaded not guilty. He remains in jail and will have a pre-trial hearing in January.
