Fordyce, AR – A tragic shooting at a local grocery store has claimed another life, bringing the death toll to four, as reported by state authorities on Saturday night. The latest victim was identified as 81-year-old Ellen Shrum, who succumbed to her injuries following the violent outburst that occurred Friday morning.
The incident, which unfolded both inside and outside the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, about 70 miles south of Little Rock, resulted in a total of 13 people being struck by gunfire. Among the injured were two law enforcement officers, though authorities confirmed none of the deceased were officers.
Earlier, the names of three other victims were released: Callie Weems, 23; Roy Sturgis, 50; and Shirley Taylor, 62. Seven additional civilians were injured — five women and two men, with ages ranging from 20 to 65. Of these, four are still hospitalized, including one woman listed in critical condition.
Fordyce Police officer James Johnson, 31, who was also injured in the incident, was discharged from a Little Rock hospital Saturday morning after being treated for a gunshot wound.
The shooter, identified as 44-year-old Travis Eugene Posey, engaged in gunfire with the police during the incident. He is expected to face four counts of capital murder, among other pending charges. After receiving medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, Posey was arrested and booked into the Ouachita County Detention Center.
As the investigation continues, Posey’s legal representation remains uncertain, and attempts to reach his relatives have been unsuccessful. Authorities noted that he had minimal, if any, prior criminal history. Arkansas State Police reported that Posey used a 12-gauge shotgun during his assault at the grocery store.
The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, with law enforcement officials stating no current evidence suggests extremism as a motive. According to Col. Mike Hagar of the Arkansas State Police, the attack seems to have been random, targeting no specific individual or group within the store. Hagar emphasized that there appears to be no personal relation between the shooter and any of the victims, describing them as “victims of opportunity.”
Eyewitness accounts describe a chaotic scene, with the initial shots reportedly fired in the store’s parking lot. A worker at the Mad Butcher recounted hearing gunshots and the sound of shattering glass from the rear of the store before fleeing to safety through the back exit.
The attack has left the small community of Fordyce in shock as investigations by the Arkansas State Police continue to piece together the events of that fateful day.