Fort Smith, Ark. – Fort Smith police are investigating a fatal shooting that left two people dead Thursday afternoon at a residence in the 2800 block of Independence Street.
Officers with the Fort Smith Police Department were dispatched to the home at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 1 after a caller reported a disturbance inside the residence. The caller said two people were fighting inside the home and that a loud bang was heard.
When officers arrived, they found a bedroom door locked from the inside. Officers forced entry into the room and found two deceased individuals, identified as 49-year-old Mark Bell and 47-year-old Deevelyn Bell. Both had suffered gunshot wounds.
Police said evidence recovered at the scene indicated the two were the only individuals involved in the incident. A handgun was recovered at the residence.
Both individuals were transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for autopsies and an official determination of the cause of death. The investigation remains active and ongoing.