Sandy MaloneFort Smith, AR – Three people are dead and a police officer was seriously wounded after he responded to a call about a domestic disturbance on Oct 17..
Fort Smith police said they received a 911 call about a disturbance on Tilles Avenue at about 6:20 a.m. on Oct. 17, KNWA reported.
An officer responded to the scene and when he arrived, he found 40-year-old Christofer Conner beating his 15-year-old son’s face and head with a brick.
The officer ordered Conner to stop, and initially he appeared as if he would comply with the officer’s orders, KNWA reported.
But police said that when the officer approached the man with handcuffs, Conner pulled out what authorities called “an edged weapon” and sliced open the officer’s throat.
The wounded hero opened fire on the armed man and shot him twice, killing him, KNWA reported.
The 15-year-old victim was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead.
Police said he had suffered blunt force trauma and multiple stab wounds, KNWA reported.
The boy was later identified as Conner’s son, according to police officials.
Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker said officers at the scene found “evidence of an extremely violent attack” when they went inside the house, ABC News reported.
Officers found 42-year-old Julia Marie Moore dead inside the home, according to KNWA.
Police also found a five-year-old child inside the home unharmed.
Officials have not defined the relationship between Conner and Moore, nor have they said if she was the mother of the murdered 15 year old, ABC News reported.
Police also have not said what connection the five year old who survived had to any of the other people in the house.
The child has since been placed in the custody of relatives, ABC News reported.
Chief Baker said the officer who shot Conner had saved the five year old, the Times Record reported.
“I have no doubt our officer’s swift actions saved this young child’s life,” he said.
The police chief said the wounded officer had undergone surgery for “serious lacerations to throat and neck” but was recovering and stable in the hospital, the Times Record reported.
UPDATE: On the scene in Fort Smith at Tilles Ave. where three people died this morning. One police officer was injured in the incident. I’ll bring you live information from a 2pm press conference with police. #NWAnews pic.twitter.com/L0hiwCJpUB
— Alex Angle (@alexangle_) October 17, 2021
The wounded officer will be placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation is conducted as is protocol for all officer-involved shootings.
A second officer who did not fire a weapon will also be placed on leave “pending post-critical incident treatment,” the Times Record reported.
The Arkansas State Police (ASP) are heading up the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
BREAKING: At least 3 people are dead in block of 2800 Tilles Ave. An FSPD officer fired his weapon defending himself from a knife attack and is in surgery at this time. The Arkansas State Police has been asked to investigate due to the matter being an officer-involved shooting. pic.twitter.com/CdAolEpKrO
— Fort Smith Police (@FortSmithPD) October 17, 2021
“Fort Smith is a wonderful community and when unimaginable tragedies like this happen, they leave us scared, angry, frustrated, and for some, homeless,” Chief Baker told reporters at a briefing after the shooting. “It hurts us as much as it does each of you when an outcome like this is unavoidable.
“I’m thankful for officers, who are willing to put their lives on the line when evil threatens our community,” the police chief continued. “I’m thankful for the medical team who took care of our officer and I’m thankful for a community that always pulls together when tragedy strikes.”
Holly Matkin
