Sheriff confirms deputy fired shot during homicide response

EPD confirms homicide suspect’s death

A Union County Sheriff's deputy has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into an officer-involved shooting that occurred Tuesday night, Sheriff Ricky Roberts said in a text message to a News-Times reporter Thursday.

According to previous News-Times reporting, the UCSO and El Dorado Police Department responded to a report of a homicide on West Wesson Street shortly after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2.

A joint investigation is ongoing in the deaths of two men -- one, the homicide victim, and the other, the suspect.

The El Dorado Police Department is continuing to investigate the homicide and the Arkansas State Police is leading the probe into the officer-involved shooting of the suspect.

Roberts said Thursday that a UCSO deputy responded to the homicide scene to assist EPD officers. The deputy fired his service weapon at the scene, he said.

The ASP is investigating the use of force incident.

"Following protocol, our Deputy has been placed on Administrative Leave pending the ASP investigation and a UCSO department shooting review board (investigation)," Roberts said in a text message.

Roberts declined to share the name of the deputy "until all investigations are completed."

Asked about the condition of the person the deputy shot and whether they were a suspect in the homicide police were responding to, Roberts said he could not comment further.

The homicide law enforcement officers were responding to when the deputy fired his gun is being investigated by the EPD, Roberts said, adding that he could not comment on that case.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families as well as our Deputy," Roberts said.

Aside from confirming that the homicide victim and suspect had died in the incident, EPD Chief Kenny Hickman declined Thursday to release further details about the incident, also citing the ongoing investigations.

Cindy Murphy, communications director for the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, said Thursday that the investigation into the officer-involved shooting is ongoing.

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