LITTLE ROCK — Authorities on Thursday continued to look for clues in the discovery of a decomposed body, the finding of which led to a gunfight in southern Hempstead County that injured a state trooper and killed a "person of interest" in the investigation into the death.
Arkansas State Police Special Agent Scott Clark, a 12-year veteran of the state police, was struck in the upper arm Wednesday, a state police spokesman said. Clark was investigating the death of 56-year-old Donald K. McGee.
Authorities said they didn't know McGee's cause of death. Autopsy results were unavailable Thursday.
Signs indicated that his home at 4739 Arkansas 29 South had been burglarized, and his 1994 silver and blue Chevrolet Silverado was missing, Hempstead County Chief Deputy James Singleton said.
The investigation led Clark, state police Special Agent John Bishop and sheriff's Lt. Frank McJunkins to a trailer at 383 County Road 145.
When Clark and McJunkins entered the trailer, a man identified as Fred Moore, armed with a handgun, fired a round that struck Clark, Singleton said. The investigators returned gunfire.
Moore, 43, was pronounced dead at the home shortly after 7 p.m., authorities said.
"Investigators came up with some information that identified Fred Moore as a possible person of interest that we need to talk to," Singleton said.
When the three officers arrived at the trailer on County Road 145, two women told the officers no one else was home and gave them permission to search, Singleton said.
That's when they encountered an armed Moore.
The women were not identified. Singleton said they remain cooperative, but it hasn't been determined if they will face charges.
The prosecuting attorney's office in Hempstead County will review the state police's investigation and determine if the officers' use of force was justified.
Clark, Bishop and McJunkins will remain on paid leave pending the prosecutor's review, in accordance with the departments' policies.
Arkansas, Pages 17 on 03/14/2008