Police investigators are still sifting through the details and searching for clues to the reasons for yesterday’s horrific shootout in West Memphis, in which two officers were killed and two wounded. The gun battle ended in the the parking lot of the West Memphis Wal-Mart, with both suspects killed by police fire, and two other officers wounded.
The scenario began when Officer Bill Evans pulled over a white van with Ohio plates late yesterday morning. Officer Brandon Paudert arrived shortly thereafter to provide backup. What happened next is somewhat unclear, but West Memphis Police Inspector said yesterday that the suspects got out of the van and began firing on the officers, leaving them both at the scene and spurring a massive police manhunt for the van.
An hour and half later, the van was spotted in the Wal-Mart parking. Officers surrounded the vehicle and a shoot-out ensued. During the melee, two more officers — Crittenden County Sheriff Dick Busby and a deputy, W. A. Wren — were shot and wounded. One spokesperson said the suspects had assault rifles. Another indicated they had a “long rifle and a pistol.”
WMC Channel 5 has video of the shootout on its website. The Flyer will monitor this story for more developments.
