Fort Smith, ARK – An officer-involved shooting in Hughes, Arkansas on Christmas Eve resulted in the death of a 26-year-old woman, according to Arkansas State Police and local witnesses. The incident unfolded around 7 p.m. when officers from the St. Francis County Sheriff’s Office and the Hughes Police Department responded to a report of a disturbance outside the Hughes Church of God.
During the encounter, an officer from the Hughes Police Department fired at the woman, who was later pronounced dead at the scene. Arkansas State Police have not disclosed details surrounding the circumstances that led to the officer’s use of deadly force, and investigations are ongoing.
Residents in the area reported hearing two rounds of gunfire, with one neighbor describing the sound as similar to fireworks. “Well, I heard a loud noise. It mostly sounded like fireworks. By the time I walked from my living room to my kitchen, it was just two more back-to-back,” said one local.
The woman’s identity has not been released at the request of her family, who are reportedly trying to notify relatives and allow her young child to have a somewhat normal Christmas before they speak publicly about the incident. Local resident Vontavion Hardy, who knew the deceased, expressed his belief that the situation could have been avoided. “Only thing you could’ve did was pat her down and see what she had in her pockets. You just killed her for no reason and took her life from her kid,” Hardy said.
The Arkansas State Police are now investigating the shooting, and the woman’s body will be sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy. Once the investigation is complete, a report will be submitted to the Saint Francis County prosecuting attorney, who will determine whether the use of deadly force was justified.
This shooting comes at a time of scrutiny for the Hughes Police Department, which was reinstated earlier this year after being deactivated for failing to meet state law enforcement standards. The department’s reactivation followed a plan presented by the mayor to address the issues.
As the investigation continues, the community and family members await further answers regarding what led to the fatal confrontation.