Two days after the mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, people of all ages and all walks of life gathered Sunday evening in the parking lot where the incident occurred to offer prayers for the fallen and the community as a whole.
Among the crowd of more than 200 were family members of those killed as well as survivors of the attack. Several pastors and chaplains spoke uplifting words of hope and encouragement, urging those at the solemn gathering to come together in love and comfort for one another.
Fordyce Methodist Church Pastor Debbie Head reminded everyone in attendance to pray not only for those who suffered at the hand of the gunman but for the suspect and his family as well.
The Fordyce police force, led by Chief Chad Eubanks, also made an appearance. They were met with accolades and thanks from people as they moved through the crowd. Among their ranks were officers James Johnson and Jacob Murray, both of whom were injured in the shooting. Johnson was released from UAMS before the prayer vigil.
A large contingent of local motorcycle clubs was also on hand to pay their respects and offer assistance and support.
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Bruce Grice and Helen Browning, the stepfather and mother of 23-year-old licensed practical nurse Callie Weems, who was killed in the shooting, attended the ceremony. Weems, who leaves behind a 10-month-old child, was shot by the gunman while she was rendering medical aid to another of the fallen.
“You can’t even go to the grocery store safely any more,” Grice said. Then he shared his appreciation for the way people have responded.
“In the past three days the love that has been shown to us by this community is simply overflowing,” he said. “We’ve been brought food, baby supplies and every kind of useful thing you can imagine. One man showed up with a pickup truckload of baby diapers. There is an entire room in our house filled with the items people have been so thoughtful to bring. The love has been overflowing.”
Roy Sturgis, 50, died after returning to the store upon hearing gunfire. He was shot while trying to shield the fallen Weems. His sister, Sarah Sturgis, said, “We know where Roy is now; he is in a better place. We just miss him so much.”
T.J. Bryant was Sturgis’ employer. “Roy was the kind of guy who would do anything for anybody. He would literally give you the shirt off his back. He was just a friendly, outgoing guy you couldn’t help but love,” he said.
In a news conference Sunday, Arkansas State Police Director Col. Mike Hagar said the actions of local law enforcement officers arriving at the scene of an active shooting were “nothing less than heroic.” He also remarked on how this particular incident was different from so many mass shootings in larger metropolitan areas in that with a community the size of Fordyce, it is all very personal.
“One of the things that stuck out to me as I’ve reviewed some of the statements by the officers involved, by the victims involved, they don’t refer to victims generically, they call them by name,” Hagar said. “They know these people, they’re their friends, they’re their neighbors, they’re their family. It makes it particularly difficult in a situation like this. They knew everyone personally from the suspect to the victims on the scene.”
Hagar said there appears to be “no personal connection” between the shooting suspect and his victims, that it was “a random, senseless act” perpetrated on “targets of opportunity.” He said the Arkansas Department of Public Safety has been in Fordyce assisting officers, victims and witnesses involved in the shooting.
Police have said the 911 call came in at 11:38 a.m. and that the shooting suspect, Travis Eugene “Joey” Posey, 44, of Cleveland County was shot six minutes later. Posey was slightly injured but was taken to the Ouachita County Detention Center in Camden, where he is being held on suspicion of three counts of capital murder. His first court appearance is set for Tuesday.
Mayor John MacNichol said, “I want to express my continued condolences to the victims and their families and to the citizens of Fordyce. We are doing all we can to see that everyone’s needs are attended. It’s a tragedy that only time and support of each other will heal.”
The only grocery store in the small town continues to remain closed for the time being. Multiple fundraising events are being organized in Fordyce and surrounding towns to assist the community.
Geyer Springs Baptist Church of Little Rock delivered a trailer load of supplies to Fordyce’s Melvin Collins Sports Annex on Monday morning for distribution to the public by 30 volunteers under the direction of city alderman and pastor Roderick Rogers. The giveaway program is called the “Love Our Neighbors Campaign.”
“We are responding to this trying situation with love, not hate,” Rogers said. Items included tea bags, soft drinks, milk, bread, fresh vegetables, cereal, Ramen noodles, macaroni and cheese, rice, instant potatoes, a wide variety of canned goods, snack bars and paper towels.
Rogers said there is another free food giveaway scheduled at the same location, 400 Short St., at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Fordyce Methodist Church Pastor Debbie Head reminded those at the Sunday evening prayer vigil to remember not only the victims and their families but the family of the accused as well. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)
Toward the conclusion of the Sunday evening prayer vigil at the scene of the Friday mass shooting in the Mad Butcher grocery parking lot, more than 200 people of all walks of life, race and age raised lit candles in a moment of solemn remembrance. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)
A wreath surrounded by candles bearing the names of each victim from the Friday active shooter incident is in place next to the parking lot where the tragedy occurred. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)
Staff from Little Rock’s Geyer Springs Baptist Church drove a trailer full of foodstuffs and household items to Fordyce on Monday in an effort to assist with the lack of an operating grocery. Church staff from left were intern Logan Lanier, Community Engagement pastor Justin McDonald and Media Director Billy Cannon. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)
Some of the 30 volunteers helping with the “Love Our Neighbors” food distribution campaign for Fordyce citizens were from left Blake Woodard, Ava Dorrell, Antwone Brazil, Trey Woodard and Jesse Kelly. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)
A wide array of items given away in Fordyce Monday morning included everything from fresh vegetables to canned goods to paper towels. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)
Local volunteers distributed the trailer load of foodstuffs brought to Fordyce by Geyer Springs Baptist Church into care packages for general distribution to the public. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)
Recently released from UAMS and bearing evidence of injuries he received in the Friday morning shootout, Fordyce Police Officer James Johnson, along with his fiance, were in attendance with more than 200 others for the Sunday night prayer vigil. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)