Fort Smith officer home, recovering after Sunday stabbing
UPDATE: On Wednesday, Fort Smith police have yet to identify the officer who was stabbed, but told 40/29 News he was home recovering.
Friends and neighbors of Julia Moore have created a makeshift memorial outside Moore's home and on the street corner where they say Moore's son, 15-year-old Cason, died.
Friends and family members said Moore also went by Julie.
"Oh my god, Julie gave the greatest hugs. They were like bear hugs and you just felt it, the love deep within every time she liked you. I'll love her and miss her. She was very sweet. When I first moved over here four years ago she was one of the first people I met. I don't have a car, so me and my kids, we used to walk back and forth to school and when the weather got bad Julie offered to start giving my kids a ride because her kids are going to the same school," said Na'Imah Holmes, who lives a few houses down from Moore.
Holmes and other nearby neighbors told 40/29 News they had no idea what was happening early Sunday morning until after police arrived.
"We were all right here. We didn't hear anything. Even though we were all this close, we weren't able to help him. We love him and we're going to remember him (Cason) and we feel really bad and really sad. We all know Julie, everybody on this block knew Julie. She lived life, and she loved her kids. She loved her friends and no matter what, if you needed her, you needed to talk, she was there for you," Holmes said.
As of 2 p.m., Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker said three people are dead after a brutal attack Sunday morning. It happened in the 2800 block of Tilles Avenue around 6 a.m.
Baker said police received a 911 call around 6:20 a.m. The caller said they heard yelling and screaming. They also said there was a confrontation outside a home nearby.
VIDEO ABOVE: FORT SMITH POLICE CHIEF GIVES UPDATE ON BRUTAL ATTACK
Baker said an officer arrived on the scene within minutes. The officer found Christopher Conner attacking a teen with a brick. Baker said the officer got Conner to stop the attack and was in the process of placing handcuffs on him when Conner stabbed the officer. Baker said the officer shot Conner two times, killing him.
Baker said the teen was taken to a local hospital but was pronounced dead. He had been stabbed several times. Baker revealed the teen was the son of Christopher Conner.
Baker said there was another victim inside the home. Julie Marie Moore, 42, had been stabbed. A 5-year-old child was also found inside the home by officers. The child is with family members.
"Fort Smith is a wonderful community, and when unimaginable tragedies like this happen we are all left scared, angry, frustrated, sometimes hopeless," Baker said.
The officer that was injured is currently on paid administrative leave, along with another officer that was on the scene but was not involved in the shooting.
Arkansas State Police have been requested by Baker to take over the investigation.