KATV reports that Little Rock police are on the scene of a reported shooting by a police officer at 14th and Brown about 10 a.m. today.
UPDATE: Channel 4 reports that a man was fatally during a chase that began when detectives responded to a call of a burglary in progress.
UPDATE II: Police at 5 p.m. have said little more about the episode, but neighbors are rumbling about circumstances on about the chase in which the person shot and where he was wounded. The police haven't said if the suspect was armed, but Sg. Cassandra Davis told Fox 16 that officers felt "threatened."
UPDATE III: At 6:30 p.m., police spokesman Davis said the department still hoped to have a statement today, but witnesses are being interviewed. The police reluctance is understandable.
KATV had a strong report this evening, including an account from a witness from the neighborhood, who contending the suspect was unarmed, fleeing police, jumping over a fence and shot in the back. He had resisted earlier commands to get on the ground. This adds to a mounting toll of Little Rock police officer shootings, some of which are being questioned in a lawsuit by a Chicago lawyer who criticizes the department's propensity to use force and its failure to have objective reviews of use of force. KATV posted the video below early in the afternoon, but this doesn't include the subsequent witness interview.
But even a caller from the neighborhood who's questioned police before tells me details are hazy, including a report that two men may have been involved in the original police response to a burglary call.
POLICE UPDATE: The official account confirms two men were suspects and the shooting followed a scuffle in which an officer believed a suspect was attempting to get another officer's weapon. There is no mention that the chase was continuing when the shooting occurred or where the dead suspect was shot. His companion has been charged with capital murder, possible when a death occurs in commission of a felony.
On Friday, January 11, 2013, the Little Rock Police Department received information that two individuals had broken into a residence and were returning to that residence to remove property. The Department was not provided with the specific address of this residence, only the general area of town.
Detectives from the Department’s Special Investigations Division and property crimes Detectives from the Department’s Downtown Division searched this area and at approximately 9:40 a.m. located the burglary at the west side of the duplex at 4521 W. 16th Street, observing an individual loading items taken from the residence into a gray Toyota Camry driven by a second person. As this vehicle pulled away from the residence (with both individuals now inside), the Detectives followed it and attempted to arrange for a marked patrol unit to assist in stopping it. Prior to the arrival of a marked unit, the suspect vehicle stopped just off the alley west of 1418 S. Brown and both individuals exited the vehicle and ran. 1418 S. Brown is only a random address for which the suspects decided to stop.
According to the Detectives, they gave chase to both individuals and, during the course of this, one individual stopped, appeared as if he was surrendering, and then charged and fought with a pursuing Detective. This struggle continued for a few moments, during which time the suspect knocked the Detective down and attempted to take control of his handgun. A second Detective now approached, attempted to assist and, believing that the suspect was about to acquire the first Detective’s weapon, fired at the suspect from his own weapon. The suspect was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene. The second individual was arrested without incident by other officers in the area.
The deceased has been identified as Michael W. Daniel 2nd, age 25, of 1504 S. Pine. The second individual, identified as Marcus Davis, age 26, of 4115 S. Malloy, has been charged with Capital Murder, Burglary, Theft, and Fleeing.
Pursuant to Little Rock Police Department General Orders, two separate investigations have been initiated into this matter. The first, conducted by the Department’s Major Crimes Division, will be submitted to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office when completed for a review and determination as to compliance with Arkansas law; the second, conducted by the Department’s Professional Standards Section, is charged with determining whether the Detectives involved acted in accordance with Departmental policies.
Both Detectives have been placed on administrative leave as required by Departmental policy and the investigations are continuing in this matter. One Detective received minor injuries during the struggle which do not appear to require hospitalization.
Additional information will be made available by the Department as the investigations continue.
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