Police: Arkansas Deputy Dies After Shooting; Suspect In Custody

A Sebastian County deputy passed away after he and another officer were shot in the line of duty on Wednesday, according to the Fort Smith Police Department.

The suspect has been identified as Billy Monroe Jones of Greenwood. He has been booked into the Crawford County Jail, according to KFSM, the CBS affiliate in Fort Smith.

Smith is accused of shooting a Sebastian County Sheriff's deputy and the Hackett chief of police. Both were taken to Sparks Hospital in Fort Smith. Deputy Bill Cooper died around 1:15 p.m.

Cooper, and the Hackett chief of police, Darrell Spells, were both shot Wednesday morning while responding to a call of a family disturbance around 7:15 a.m., according to the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office. The shooting happened near the intersection of Highway 253 and Boone Road east of the Oklahoma-Arkansas state line.

The chief of police, Darrell Spells, was released from the hospital. His mother posted on Facebook that he is expected to be OK.

The sheriff's office told KFSM, Billy Jones had barricaded himself inside a mobile home near Hackett after the shooting. Officers were able to talk Jones into coming out of the home peacefully with his hands up.

In a statement, Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson said:

"I am deeply saddened by the news that Sebastian County Sheriffs Deputy Bill Cooper has passed away after being shot in the line of duty this morning. Today's shooting incident, which also resulted in injures to Hackett Chief of Police Darrell Spells, tragically illustrates the dangers our law enforcement officers face each and every day to keep us safe."

Sebastian County Sheriff Hollenbeck said Greenwood K-9 officer, Kina, was also shot Wednesday morning,and officers are still searching for her.