One officer fired once before another officer used a Taser, police said.
CONWAY, Ark. — Conway police said officers arrived within about a minute of a stabbing call at Walmart and arrested an armed man after employee Jordanne Drinkwater was fatally wounded March 31.
The police response is a central part of the investigation into the killing at the Skyline Drive store. Zeddrick Ross, 37, was taken into custody at the scene and accused of first-degree murder. Police said Drinkwater, 32, was the only person stabbed and no other workers, shoppers or officers were injured during the confrontation.
The emergency call came at about 10:58 p.m., when police were told that a man was stabbing a female employee inside the store. Officers entered and found Ross still holding a knife, police said. They gave several commands for him to drop it. Police said he did not comply and moved toward officers. One officer fired one shot, which police said did not cause an apparent gunshot injury. A second officer then used a Taser, and Ross was taken into custody.
After the arrest, attention shifted back to Drinkwater. Officers and emergency medical workers provided aid, but police said she died inside the store from her injuries. The scene then became both a homicide investigation and a police response review. Investigators had to document the stabbing, the weapon, the suspect’s movements, the officer’s shot and the Taser deployment. Police said the officer who fired was placed on administrative leave, a routine step after a shooting by police.
Investigators said early findings showed Ross was not employed by Walmart and was not known to Drinkwater. Police said they had found no known interaction between them before the attack. That detail shaped the way officials described the case. A police official said investigators had not yet settled on an exact motive and did not want to speculate, though the case appeared to have no clear connection between the victim and suspect.
Later reports citing the police affidavit said Ross told a detective he believed he had been followed by a demon and thought he was attacking that figure when he stabbed Drinkwater. He allegedly said he realized afterward that she was not the person he believed had been following him. Investigators also said Ross reported having stolen the knife earlier and entering the store while seeking another weapon. Police have not said those statements closed the question of motive.
The killing placed Walmart employees and the Conway community in grief. Walmart said it was heartbroken and was focused on supporting associates and helping law enforcement. Drinkwater’s friends said she was known as Puff and remembered her as a rare, caring person. Sam Slaughter, a friend, said Drinkwater helped change her life and taught her not to add more hate to the world. “She’s going to be so, so missed,” Slaughter said.
The store’s location on Skyline Drive made the attack highly visible in Conway, a city north of Little Rock with a large student and commuter population. Residents followed police updates as the department confirmed that the suspect had no known relationship with the victim. Officials described the case as isolated while continuing to gather evidence from the store and from people who were present when officers arrived.
For now, Ross remains at the Faulkner County Detention Center as the case moves toward prosecutor review and court proceedings. The next steps include completion of police reports, review of the officer’s use of force and formal handling of the murder accusation.
Author note: Last updated April 27, 2026.