Spa City man injured in shooting; 1 arrested

Patrick Lee McElroy, 58, of Hot Springs National Park
Patrick Lee McElroy, 58, of Hot Springs National Park

A former Habitat for Humanity employee was in custody Friday after a shooting in Hot Springs left one of the organization's workers injured Wednesday.

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Police responded at 5:05 p.m. to the shooting in the parking lot of a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Hot Springs, across from the Austin Convention Hotel and Spa on Malvern Avenue.

At the scene authorities found Sheldon Rhine, a receiving manager at the store, suffering from a single gunshot wound in his upper body, police said.

Rhine identified the gunman as Patrick Lee McElroy, 58, of Hot Springs National Park. McElroy is a former Habitat employee who had recently been fired, police said in a news release.

Rhine was transported to a hospital. Police said his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Police said they arrested McElroy later Wednesday night in the parking lot of the Hot Springs Mountain Tower and found a firearm in his vehicle.

Court records show McElroy was booked into the Garland County jail on a charge of first-degree battery. He remained in custody as of Friday in lieu of a $5,000 bond.

McElroy is to appear in court Dec. 8.

Metro on 11/28/2015

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