Fort Smith, Ark. – The Fort Smith Police Department released new details Sunday following an overnight shooting that critically injured an officer and ended with a suspect dead after a police pursuit on Interstate 540.
According to police, officers were investigating a group of juveniles near the amphitheater off McClure Drive around 1:23 a.m. on May 17 when they observed a white pickup truck drive into a nearby ditch.
Police said Officer Kyle Newman approached the vehicle to check on the driver while another officer remained with the juveniles and parents who had arrived to pick up their children.
During the encounter, officers identified the driver as 27-year-old Joshua Keller of Fort Smith and began a driving while intoxicated investigation.
Investigators said Keller later became argumentative, got back into the vehicle, and attempted to flee. As Officer Newman attempted to detain him outside the truck, Keller allegedly produced a handgun and shot the officer in the neck.
Police said Officer Newman returned fire while falling to the ground. Another officer at the scene reportedly responded after hearing gunfire, broadcast that shots had been fired, and fired at the fleeing pickup before helping render aid to the wounded officer.
The suspect then fled the area, leading officers onto Interstate 540. Authorities said the pursuit ended after the pickup crashed near the Grand Avenue exit.
According to police, another officer-involved shooting occurred as officers approached the crashed vehicle. Keller was pronounced dead at the scene, and investigators said a handgun was recovered from inside the truck.
Officer Newman was transported by EMS before being airlifted to a trauma center, where he remains in critical condition.
The Arkansas State Police has been requested to investigate the officer-involved shooting connected to the pursuit and crash scene, while Fort Smith Police Criminal Investigations Division detectives continue investigating the initial shooting on McClure Drive.
Authorities said portions of Interstate 540 near the Grand Avenue exit and McClure Drive remained closed during the investigation.
Police stated that certain investigative details are not being released at this time in order to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.