Two officers were shot and a suspect was killed during a gunfight Monday morning inside a Walmart in Forrest City, AR.
Forrest City police have identified the officers as Lt. Eric Varner and Detective Eugene Watlington.
He pulled out a gun and shot both officers, officials said. Both officers returned fire and shot and killed him, according to the St. Francis County Sheriff Bobby May.

A wounded Forrest City, AR, police officer arrives at a Memphis trauma center. He is expected to recover. (Photo: Fox 13 Screen Shot)
Two officers were shot and a suspect was killed during a gunfight Monday morning inside a Walmart in Forrest City, AR.
Forrest City police have identified the officers as Lt. Eric Varner and Detective Eugene Watlington.
Walmart security called the police about a man threatening customers, Fox13 reports. Once the two officers arrived, they confronted the man.
He pulled out a gun and shot both officers, officials said. Both officers returned fire and shot and killed him, according to the St. Francis County Sheriff Bobby May.
One officer was rushed to a Memphis hospital and taken into surgery. He is expected to be OK, according to officials.
Police Chief Deon Lee told WMC5 one officer went to the hospital in Forrest City and was conscious and talking at the scene. He was treated and released.
Lee says Varner and Watlington are assigned to the Criminal Investigation Department and were in the area when the call came in. He says neither officer was wearing a vest when they responded to the store.
No civilians were injured in the incident.

5.11 launched a variety of new load-bearing gear, ranging from backpacks to chest packs, designed for training, travel, and everyday readiness, this week during SHOT Show 2026.
Read More →
Streamlight launched the TLR-3X and TLR-3X USB, two new weapon lights, and an assortment of other new lights during SHOT Show 2026.
Read More →
Built on the proven Halen platform, the new EOTech x Fast Metal Halen Ballistic Spectacle System is the only aluminum frame listed on the U.S. Army’s Authorized Protective Eyewear List.
Read More →
Two officers were shot in Gainesville, Florida, by a man who police say was leaving an area where he had killed a man inside a business. The suspect exited his vehicle in what the chief termed an “ambush-style” attack.
Read More →
An Ohio police department has received harassing phone calls and social media messages because it has an officer with the same name as the ICE officer identified in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, officer-involved shooting.
Read More →
What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.
Read More →
A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.
Read More →
Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.
Read More →
The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.
Read More →How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.
Read More →