In a tragic incident, a Fayetteville, Arkansas, police officer was killed in an ambush-style attack while sitting in his patrol vehicle. The officer, Stephen Carr, was the son of a retired Houston Police Department sergeant. The incident occurred late Saturday night outside the Fayetteville Police Department.
According to a news release from the Fayetteville Police Department, Officer Carr was “ambushed and executed” by a suspect identified as 35-year-old London Phillips, of Fayetteville. Police reported hearing gunshots behind the department at approximately 9:42 p.m. When officers responded to the scene, they heard additional gunshots and discovered an armed suspect behind the building.
The suspect engaged in a confrontation with the responding officers, who then shot and killed him. Upon further investigation, officers found Carr deceased inside his patrol vehicle. “Evidence shows that Officer Carr was ambushed and executed while sitting his patrol vehicle,” the news release stated.
Officer Carr had been with the Fayetteville Police Department since April 2017 and served as a patrol officer in the Dickson Street entertainment district. The department described him as a hero, stating, “He served our community with dedication and professionalism for the past 2 ½ years… Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Carr’s family during this tragic time.”
During a news conference, Chief Mike Reynolds explained that officers pursued the suspect into an alley located between the police department and the city prosecutor’s office, where the suspect was fatally shot. Reynolds indicated that Officer Carr had been waiting for his partner in the parking lot when the shooting occurred. The shooter’s motivation remains unknown. “It appears the suspect came into the back parking lot and just executed my officer,” Reynolds said.
Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene, but both Officer Carr and the suspected shooter succumbed to their injuries.
The Houston Police Officers’ Union confirmed via Twitter that Officer Carr was the son of a retired HPD sergeant. The tweet read:
Last night, senseless tragedy struck in Fayetteville as well as here in Houston. Officer Stephen Carr, son of a retired HPD Sergeant, was ambushed and murdered. “Evidence shows that Officer Carr was executed while sitting in his patrol vehicle.” https://t.co/7Xxfeh6Z5A
This fatal Arkansas shooting followed the shooting death of a Houston police sergeant on the same Saturday night, highlighting a particularly difficult time for law enforcement. The Law Officer extends its condolences to the families and organizations of Stephen Carr, Christopher Brewster, and Billy Fred Clardy III, another officer recently killed in the line of duty. These are somber moments and the men are incredible examples of honorable servants.
Just a few days prior, Huntsville, Alabama police officer Billy Fred Clardy III was shot and killed during a narcotic investigation. Clardy’s father also suffered a line of duty death serving Huntsville Police Department in 1978.
Law enforcement faces inherent risks, and these recent events serve as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by officers and their families. The police community mourns the loss of these brave individuals.