NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — According to the North Little Rock Police Department, an officer-involved shooting occurred at the corner of Broadway and Lynch Drive.
In an interview with NLRPD Sgt. Amy Cooper, she said officers were inside of the North Little Rock Rose City Substation when they heard gun shots.
Officers encountered an armed male subject, later identified as 35-year-old Ruben Smith III of NLR, in the parking lot at the Tobacco Outlet store. He was actively shooting a handgun.
Police said they began immediate lock down procedures with the businesses that were affected. Officers gathered all innocent persons in the immediate vicinity of the armed subject and placed them in positions of safety, while other officers began to try to deescalate the armed subject’s actions, according to their press release.
Police said Smith then jumped into an innocent bystander’s vehicle that was parked in front of 4615 E. Broadway. Officers continued to try to persuade the armed subject to comply with their demands to relinquish the handgun, but they say he adamantly refused and then pointed the handgun at the officers.
The release states that's when one officer shot at the subject to stop the immediate threat.
Smith was transported to a local hospital and is in critical condition.
There were no officers injured in the incident. Detectives are investigating and all involved officers have been placed on administrative leave.
More on this story as it develops.