11 civilians shot, 3 dead in US grocery store shooting
Windows of the Mad Butcher grocery store after the incident in Arkansas, United States on June 21, 2024. (AP)
A shooting outside the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, Arkansas on Saturday left three dead and eleven injured, according to Dallas County authorities. The first 911 calls came in at approximately 11:38 a.m., prompting a swift response from U.S. law enforcement.
Arkansas State Police confirmed that 11 civilians were shot, and three of the victims succumbed to their injuries. Among the wounded were two law enforcement officers, who sustained non-critical injuries during the incident. The shooter, who also exchanged gunfire with officers, was injured but not critically and is in custody.
Roderick Rogers, a Fordyce City Counselor and the individual who called 911, expressed his sorrow over the tragedy. “Listen, continue to pray for the city of Fordyce,” Rogers said. “This is a very devastating day for us. Never in a million years would we think something like this would happen. It’s a lot of families involved that’s affected, so just continue to pray for them.”
Eyewitnesses at the scene recounted their harrowing experiences. Sisters Amiya and Ashia Doherty described the terror they felt. “I was really scared like I will never think that will happen in Fordyce. That’s real scary and I pray for the man too, you know, because something has triggered him. But yeah, I’m just glad I’m okay and my family okay, but I do want to pray for the ones who got hurt,” Amiya Doherty said.
Jneria Holton, another witness, emphasized the need for mental health support. “I felt like the active shooter didn’t think about no kids, he didn’t think about the people that was around and the genuine people who lost their lives, just because they was going through something,” Holton said. “I feel like if he was going through something, he should’ve talked to somebody, I work at Mill Creek, we could’ve talked to you, somebody out here could’ve helped you, we’re willing to always help.”
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been briefed on the shooting and shared her condolences via social media.
