Two Arkansas police officers -- including Hackett Chief of Police Darrell Spells -- were shot in Sebastian County on Wednesday and authorities were descending on the home where the suspected shooter was believed to be barricaded inside.
Sebastian County Deputy Bill Cooper was in critical condition at Sparks Hospital in Fort Smith. Spells had been treated and released from the hospital after being grazed in the head by a bullet, NEWS5 reported.
Police negotiators entered the suspected gunman's home around 11 a.m. and family members who had been inside were removed, according to NEWS5.
The accused shooter was identified as Billy M. Jones, an official from the Sebastian County Sheriff's Department told 40/29 News. Spells and the deputy were at Jones' house for a family disturbance call around 7:20 a.m.
A huge contingent of heavily armed police surrounded Jones' home after the shooting.
"We believe him to be holed up currently," SCSD spokesman Philip Pevehouse told The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
NEWS5 listed multiple prior offenses for Jones, including a 2007 conviction for manufacture and possession of a controlled substance and a 2011 conviction for theft of property. He was charged in February 2016 with possession of firearms and possession of a controlled substance.
Police said the suspected shooter was carrying a semi-automatic weapon, NEWS5 reported.
Three local departments and the state police were responding to the incident. One officer drove at least 50 miles to get to the scene, NEWS5 reported. Two police helicopters had been deployed and The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette said a SWAT team was on site.
A person who answered the phone at the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office declined to provide further information on the incident and told FoxNews.com that the department was "under emergency."
Spells took over as police chief in December 2013 in Hackett, a town of just over 800 people about 170 miles west of Little Rock.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the shooting underscored the danger officers face statewide and illustrated how important it is for the community to support law enforcement.
U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, whose district includes part of Sebastian County, echoed the governor's support for police.
"It's a shame the price that law enforcement officers are paying right now," Westerman said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sebastian County Deputy Bill Cooper was in critical condition at Sparks Hospital in Fort Smith. Spells had been treated and released from the hospital after being grazed in the head by a bullet, NEWS5 reported.
Police negotiators entered the suspected gunman's home around 11 a.m. and family members who had been inside were removed, according to NEWS5.
The accused shooter was identified as Billy M. Jones, an official from the Sebastian County Sheriff's Department told 40/29 News. Spells and the deputy were at Jones' house for a family disturbance call around 7:20 a.m.
A huge contingent of heavily armed police surrounded Jones' home after the shooting.
"We believe him to be holed up currently," SCSD spokesman Philip Pevehouse told The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
NEWS5 listed multiple prior offenses for Jones, including a 2007 conviction for manufacture and possession of a controlled substance and a 2011 conviction for theft of property. He was charged in February 2016 with possession of firearms and possession of a controlled substance.
Police said the suspected shooter was carrying a semi-automatic weapon, NEWS5 reported.
Three local departments and the state police were responding to the incident. One officer drove at least 50 miles to get to the scene, NEWS5 reported. Two police helicopters had been deployed and The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette said a SWAT team was on site.
A person who answered the phone at the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office declined to provide further information on the incident and told FoxNews.com that the department was "under emergency."
Spells took over as police chief in December 2013 in Hackett, a town of just over 800 people about 170 miles west of Little Rock.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the shooting underscored the danger officers face statewide and illustrated how important it is for the community to support law enforcement.
U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, whose district includes part of Sebastian County, echoed the governor's support for police.
"It's a shame the price that law enforcement officers are paying right now," Westerman said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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