At least three people were killed and 10 others sustained injuries after a shooter opened fire Friday at a grocery store in Arkansas, United States.
The shooter left the store and parked cars riddled with bullet holes as bystanders ducked for cover both indoors and in the parking lot, news agency AP reported, citing authorities.
Among those who sustained injuries were two law enforcement officers who exchanged fire with the shooter, as per the state police.
The shooting took place at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, a city of about 3,200 people located 65 miles (104 kilometers) south of Little Rock. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Col. Mike Hagar, director of State Police and public safety secretary, said, “It’s tragic, our hearts are broken,” as quoted by the AP.
Neither the officers’ nor the suspected shooter’s injuries were life-threatening. According to AP, the remaining injuries ranged from “not life-threatening to extremely critical,” Hagar stated.
The police did not immediately have information about whether the shooting took place inside or outside the store, nor did they identify the suspected shooter or the victims. Police, however, did say that they are expected to release more information Friday night, as reported by AP.
According to the video posted on social media, at least one person was lying in the parking lot, while another captured multiple gunshots ringing out.
Visuals on the scene captured by reporters showed a slew of bullet holes in the grocery store’s window, and spent shell casings strewn throughout the parking lot, as reported by the AP. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she had been briefed on the shooting.
“I am thankful to law enforcement and first responders for their quick and heroic action to save lives,” Sanders posted on the social media platform X. “My prayers are with the victims and all those impacted by this.”