Police investigate homicide outside of Helena-West Helena O’Reilly’s (Courtesy of Tommy Reed)
A suspect involved in a Helena-West Helena homicide triggered a barricade situation at the Phillips County Detention Center on Tuesday while being processed by authorities.
According to officials, the inmate managed to gain access to an unidentified object, which he used to harm himself. He then barricaded himself inside the processing area, prompting officers to deploy pepper spray to subdue him. The individual was subsequently transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. Fortunately, no other individuals were injured during the incident.
Helena-West Helena Police Chief Vincent Bell confirmed that the inmate is connected to a fatal shooting earlier that afternoon. The shooting occurred at the O’Reilly Auto Parts in West Helena after a dispute at a nearby motel. According to officials, the victim ran to the front of O’Reilly’s where he was fatally shot in the doorway.
Chief Bell did not release additional details regarding the victim and suspect’s identity or the possible motive for the shooting.
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