Sad Day in our East Arkansas Community, 4 dead, 2 critically injured

Suspects in police shooting killed in West Memphis shootout, Sheriff Busby and Deputy WAWren injured

Four West Memphis police officers were shot, two fatally, Thursday morning in West Memphis, AR.

The chain of events started late Thursday morning, when two officers were shot and killed during a traffic stop near I-40 and Airport Road. Two Hispanic men in a white Plymoth van with Ohio tags decided to take the officers lives. The van was registered to a church, House of Gods Prayer, in New Vienna, Ohio.

West Memphis Police Chief Bob Paudert said his son, Brandon Paudert, was shot in the back of the head and died. The other officer, Bill Evans, also died later at the hospital.

After the initial shooting of the officers on the interstate, the suspects escaped.

After closing down portions of I-55 and I-40, and searching car-to-car, police tracked the alleged shooters to the Walmart parking lot in West Memphis.

There, a second shootout occurred. During the gunfire, both suspects were killed. Additionally, two Crittenden County sheriff's deputies were shot and wounded. Both deputies were taken to The MED, in Memphis, TN. Sheriff Dick Busby and Deputy WA Wren were the injured deputies. Both are in critical condition. The news states that WA Wren is in surgery.

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The Walmart in West Memphis is closed at this time. The local police force is removing the employees and patrons to a subdivision in the rear of the Walmart Property for their safety. Many stand in the middle of Rich Road still in shock about the turn of events.

Brandon Paudert and Bill Evans were assigned to the West Memphis Police Department's drug interdiction unit.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE OFFICERS FAMILIES, THEIR CO-WORKERS, THE COMMUNITY AND THE MEDICAL STAFF CARING FOR THE INJURED OFFICERS AT THE ELVIS PRESLEY TRAUMA CENTER IN MEMPHIS, TN.