Prosecutor says force was justified in Fort Smith shooting

A prosecutor said the use of deadly force was justified in the shooting of a man suspected of critically wounding a Fort Smith officer before fleeing.

What happened

The man was suspected of critically wounding the officer. He then fled and was shot. The prosecutor’s position is that the deadly force used in the shooting was justified.

What is known about the review

The prosecutor’s conclusion addresses whether the use of deadly force was justified. The available account does not identify the prosecutor, the officer, the man who was shot or the agency that conducted the shooting.

It also does not describe the sequence of events in detail, the location of the shooting, the officer’s current condition or whether any criminal charges were filed.

What comes next

Any additional public record from the prosecutor or law-enforcement agency could provide more information about the decision and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.