Arkansas State Police told
WMC TV
that Officer Wallace and other officers were searching for Latarius Howard, 29, in connection with a separate shooting a week earlier. Wallace spotted Howard around 6 p.m. Thursday in an SUV leaving a motel parking let in Helena-West Helena.
Wallace blocked the SUV with his own patrol vehicle and Howard reportedly got out shooting as he approached the officer. Though wounded, Wallace returned fire but Howard got back in the vehicle and took off with another driver behind the wheel, ASP says.
Officer Wallace died at a local hospital.
U.S. Marshals arrested Howard and 24-year-old Bruce Hillie Friday morning in Mississippi.
Howard is facing a capital murder charge and Hillie a charge of hindering apprehension, police believe he was the getaway driver.