Fort Smith, ARK — A 22-year-old man has been arrested following a shooting that left a 32-week pregnant woman hospitalized in Fort Smith on December 17. Authorities responded to the scene on MacArthur Drive at approximately 9:50 a.m. after the woman, who had been shot, contacted police herself.
Fort Smith Police Department (FSPD) officials said officers quickly arrived at the residence, where they provided medical assistance to the injured woman. Fortunately, her injuries were not life-threatening, and both she and her unborn baby are expected to recover. The woman was transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment, where she was stabilized.
“We responded very quickly to the residence, were able to get some medical assistance to her, and found out the pertinent information on the suspect,” said Aric Mitchell, spokesperson for the FSPD. “He was located about 50 minutes later and taken into custody.”
The suspect, later identified as Erick Luna-Chavez, was arrested without incident. He is being held at the Sebastian County Detention Center without bond. Luna-Chavez faces multiple charges, including two counts of domestic battery—one for the woman and another for the unborn child—aggravated residential burglary, standard residential burglary, and tampering with evidence.
The investigation remains ongoing, according to FSPD officials.
During the time of the shooting, Sunnymede Elementary School, located nearby, briefly went into lockdown as a precaution. Fort Smith Public Schools confirmed that the lockdown was lifted at 10:24 a.m. and all students were safe.
This incident has prompted concerns about domestic violence and the safety of children and expectant mothers. Authorities have not released additional details about the relationship between Luna-Chavez and the victim, but the charges suggest a domestic context to the crime.
The Fort Smith Police Department continues to investigate the case, and additional details are expected to be released as the situation develops.