16-Year-Old Charged with Capital Murder in AR Officer's Death
A 16-year-old has been charged as an adult with capital murder in the shooting death of an Arkansas police officer.
Lt. Patrick Weatherford
A 16-year-old has been charged as an adult with capital murder in the shooting death of an Arkansas police officer. The teen was being held Wednesday at a juvenile detention center, reports the Associated Press.
Henry Boyce, Third Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney, confirmed Wednesday he filed charges against 16-year-old Derrick Heard from Newport and 18-year-old Tyler Calamese in the death of Newport police Lt. Patrick Weatherford, reports KATV.
The other charges filed Wednesday against Heard were attempted capital murder, breaking or entering, theft of property, and possession of a handgun by a minor.
On June 12, Lt. Patrick Weatherford and Sgt. Shane Rogers responded to a call of a vehicle break-in near the area of Bowen Street and Newport Avenue. When Lt. Weatherford arrived at the scene, he saw an individual, later identified as Heard, fleeing the area.
Lt. Weatherford chased Heard on foot and Sgt. Rogers chased him in a patrol car. Heard is then accused of firing his gun, striking and killing Weatherford, and turning and firing the gun at Rogers.
The court documents say Heard admitted to the shootings and also admitted to breaking into a vehicle, stealing a purse, and fleeing when police approached.
An 18-year-old had previously been accused in the June 12 shooting, but Prosecutor Henry Boyce said that man will now just face charges of breaking or entering, theft of property, and furnishing a deadly weapon to a minor, the Associated Press reports.
More Patrol
POLICE Product Test: Streamlight Wedge SL
The Streamlight Wedge SL is a high-performance light for inspection or administrative tasks that features USB-C charging and an output up to 500 lumens in a compact package.
Read More →
NLEOMF Officer of the Month Saved Child from Burning Vehicle
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund named Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose Police Department (California) as the Officer of the Month for May 2026. Read more about Jaycox’s heroic actions.
Read More →
Garmont Tactical Introduces the Contact Collection for LE
Garmont Tactical has launched its Contact Collection, a new lineup of law-enforcement duty boots featuring 4-inch and 6-inch options, including waterproof models.
Read More →
Folds of Honor Celebrates Graduation Season as 1,613 Military and First Responder Family Scholars Earn Their Degrees
Every Folds of Honor scholar graduating in the Class of 2026 carries a story starting with sacrifice. Folds of Honor ensures it doesn’t end there. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships to military and first responder families.
Read More →
Why Tennessee’s New Deadly Force Law Matters Beyond Tennessee
Tennessee’s new deadly force law is more limited than many may realize. Effective July 1, 2026, the law applies to a person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor and who is in a place where the person lawfully resides. But it could have far-reaching influence.
Read More →
When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer by Police Vehicle?
Time-sensitive injuries like penetrating trauma mean a wounded officer needs to reach a trauma center as soon as possible, and in some cases, that means transporting by police vehicle rather than waiting for EMS. What are the factors to consider in making that transport decision?
Read More →
Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
5 Things to Know When Buying Backup Lights for Patrol Use
What is the value of a backup light, and what do you need to consider when selecting one? These smaller lights are invaluable as a secondary or special-purpose light and can be easily carried in a pocket or clipped to MOLLE gear, a key chain, shirt, or a vest.
Read More →
363 Fallen Officers Honored During National Police Week
In case you missed NELOMF’s annual Candlelight Vigil, here are all 363 names of the fallen officers whose names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this year.
Read More →
NYPD Officers Who Responded Quickly During IED Incident Recognized as NLEOMF Officers of the Month
Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro were recognized by NLEOMF as Officers of the Month for their response during an IED incident and their actions that helped prevent harm to the public.
Read More →