Fordyce, Arkansas – Ten individuals were injured, with two fatalities, in a tragic incident of an active shooter at Mad Butcher Grocery in Fordyce, Arkansas. Among those injured was a law enforcement officer, with non-life-threatening injuries, while the suspected shooter was critically wounded by responding officers.
Arkansas State Police responded to the shooting at approximately 11:30 a.m. at the grocery store, where a total of nine civilians were shot, including the two fatalities. The law enforcement officer shot also sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The suspected shooter was critically injured and is currently in custody.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed her sadness over the shooting in Fordyce and assured that she is in constant communication with the state police at the scene. Witnesses described the chaotic scene as the suspect fired shots rapidly, causing people to flee the grocery store while police and ambulances arrived at the scene.
One witness, David Rodriguez, recounted hearing gunshots resembling fireworks before the suspect started firing more rapidly, prompting people to run from the store. Matthew Gill, the meat manager at Mad Butcher, mentioned that the suspect entered the store with a shotgun, leading to a shootout with the police.
The community in Fordyce, a small city in southeast Dallas County, with a population of just 3,396 in 2020, is shaken by the tragic event. Roderick Rogers, a Fordyce City Council Member, reported that survivors of the shooting are traumatized, and efforts are being made to provide counseling and support for those affected.
Mass shootings have become a growing concern in the United States, with data from the Gun Violence Archive showing at least 234 incidents in 2024 alone. The frequency of these events highlights the urgent need for measures to address gun violence and ensure the safety of communities across the country.