A police chief in Little Rock has been suspended for shooting at a woman who allegedly shot another woman on New Year’s Eve.
Police Chief Keith Humphrey is on paid leave for shooting the woman after a shootout. The shootout involved two young women in a Little Rock convenience store parking lot.
Humphrey was on patrol around the city when he saw a fight going down in Superstop’s parking lot. He stopped and walked towards it. Authorities say that as he approached, Taz Hayes, 29, shot and critically wounded Kelecia Mayo, 22.
Then, reports Arkansas Times, Humphrey opened fire at Hayes. As this happened, she ran off, so he didn’t strike her. Later on, Hayes was arrested by Arkansas State Police. She has been charged with first-degree battery.
“While patrolling, Chief Humphrey saw a disturbance that, unfortunately, led to a shooting,” Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said in a press release. “Chief Humphrey also fired his weapon at the suspected shooter, and as is customary practice in an officer-involved shooting, he has been placed on administrative leave.”
#UniteLR—My official statement on New Year’s Eve Officer-Involved Shooting. pic.twitter.com/7KmwhGcZ5q
— Frank Scott, Jr. (@FrankScottJr) January 1, 2022
The press release states that Assistant Chief Crystal is currently the acting Chief of Police, following Humphrey’s administrative leave.
As for Mayo, she was rushed to Little Rock Hospital, and she is reportedly in critical condition.
Currently, there is a video on Facebook showing the entire ordeal. A woman is seen arguing with a man then, smashing a car window right before the shooting.
Mayor Frank Scott Jr. also says, in his press release, that there will be an ongoing investigation regarding both shooting incidents.
“This is an unprecedented situation because it involves our chief of police,” he says. “In our ongoing efforts to remain accountable, clear, and transparent, we have asked the Arkansas State Police to investigate both incidents, and they have agreed. We are thankful for their cooperation.”
