FORDYCE, Ark. — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders ordered for flags to be flown at half-staff to mourn the lives lost during a mass shooting at Mad Butcher, a grocery store in Fordyce, Arkansas.
"The United States flag and the state flag of Arkansas be flown at half-staff throughout the State from sunrise to sunset on Friday, June 28, 2024, one week after the tragedy, in memory of the lives lost," Gov. Sanders said.
The deadly shooting happened on Friday, June 21 when a suspected gunman later identified as 44-year-old Travis Posey began firing at the Mad Butcher grocery store. The shooting killed four people and injured eight civilians and two law enforcement officers.
The victims ranged in age from 23 years old to 81 years old, and included community members like 23-year-old Callie Weems who died while providing aid to a person who had been shot during the incident.
Three others died in the tragic incident, including 50-year-old Roy Sturgis, 62-year-old Shirley Taylor, and 81-year-old Ellen Shrum.
"[The victims] were loved by their families and by the Fordyce community. Their loss is a tragedy for the entire State of Arkansas," Gov. Sanders said about the tragic shooting in Fordyce.
Those injured in the shooting ranged from 20 years old to 65 years old, with many in the Mad Butcher hiding in the store's freezer to escape the gunman.
The injured victims range in age between 20 and 65. Many of those at the grocery store hid in the store’s freezer to escape the gunman.
"Arkansans at the Mad Butcher risked their lives to help others during the shooting, showing the courage and compassion of our people," Gov. Sander said. "They assisted each other during the shooting and after, helping those who had sustained injuries get aid."
The suspected gunman Travis Posey, who is from New Edinburg, will be charged with four counts of capital murder and additional charges are pending. He was also injured after exchanging gunfire with police.
He is currently being held at the Ouachita County Detention Center.
Posey was armed with a 12-gauge shotgun and a pistol. He also had a bandolier that held dozens of extra shotgun rounds. Police also believe most, if not all, of the rounds were fired from the shotgun.
While officials have yet to announce any motive for the shooting, investigators are working to learn more. However, they have said that Posey had no obvious known connection to any of the victims nor to the grocery store.