Mass Shooting Outside Grocery Store In Arkansas Leaves Multiple People Injured

Multiple people have reportedly been injured in a mass shooting outside a local grocery store in Arkansas.

Cell phone footage taken by Casey Rodriguez was released, which showed emergency services rushing to the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce on Friday morning following reports of a shooting.

According to THV11, investigators with the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office were called to assist Dallas County authorities with the incident. This comes months after shots were fired at a house party, leaving multiple people dead and others injured.

As The Blast previously reported, officers were dispatched to a California residence around 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, in response to a report of gunshots. Upon arrival, they found three men with gunshot wounds in the front yard, all of whom were pronounced dead at the scene.

According to SeArk Times, multiple people were injured in the shootout, including at least one law enforcement officer. It began after an individual allegedly took a gun into the Mad Butcher grocery store. A source told the outlet that the shootout occurred between the suspect and law enforcement shortly after officers arrived on the scene.

The suspect was also wounded in the gunfire, and the individual, plus other wounded victims, have been transported via med flight to area hospitals. Others who were not as severely wounded were transported by ambulance.

Governor Sarah Huckabee-Sanders released a statement on the shooting incident in Fordyce around 1:45 p.m. local time.

“I have been briefed on the tragic shooting in Fordyce, and I’m in constant contact with State Police at the scene. I am thankful to law enforcement and first responders for their quick and heroic action to save lives. My prayers are with the victims and all those impacted by this horrific incident.”

As The Blast reported earlier this year, a mass shooting occurred just shortly after the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade came to an end on February 14. The incident left one dead as well as nearly two dozen others injured, including 12 children.

The Kansas City Chiefs released a statement following the tragedy. “We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally,” the organization said in its statement. “Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all of Kansas City. We are in close communication with the Mayor’s office as well as the Kansas City Police Department."

The statement added, “At this time, we have confirmed that all of our players, coaches, staff, and their families are safe and accounted for. We thank the local law enforcement officers and first responders who were on-scene to assist.”

Three men were charged with murder in connection with the shooting.

The nation has seen several mass shootings within the past few weeks, including 14 mass shootings in three days, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. In total, nine people were killed and 74 injured.

The mass shootings took place in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The good news is that the total number of mass shootings is down from last year, with 227 so far. The agency's 2024 Quarterly Crime Report and Use-of-Force Data Update showed significant decreases in various crime categories compared to 2023. Preliminary data revealed a 26.4% drop in murders, a 25.7% decrease in rapes, a 17.8% reduction in robberies, and a 12.5% decline in aggravated assaults.

Florida leads the nation in mass shootings, with 18 so far in 2024.