SHERWOOD, Ark. – One person is dead and one person has been taken into custody in connection with a shooting at CHI St. Vincent North hospital in Sherwood.
During a news conference shortly after 12:30 p.m., Sherwood Police Department Chief Jeff Hagar reported that one person at the hospital had died of gunshot wounds, and one “person of interest” had been taken into custody.
A spokesperson for the SPD said the call for police came at about 10 a.m., and officers were on the scene shortly thereafter. Department officers originally reported on social media posts that they were responding to “an incident” before later calling it an “active shooter” situation.
During a news conference later Wednesday, authorities said the shooting was actually targeted, with the victim, who was in the hospital visiting a patient, being shot by someone they knew.
The victim in the case was identified as 21-year-old Leighton Whitfield, police said during that news conference, while the suspect in the case was identified as 24-year-old Raymond Lovett.
In a tweet sent out just after 1 p.m., the Little Rock Police Department said had received a tip that a potential suspect in the shooting had been spotted shortly after 11 a.m. at an Exxon station located at 5223 South University.
Officers said they arrived at the gas station and spotted the individual and took that person into custody.
Video from the Arkansas Department of Transportation traffic cameras in the area showed law enforcement blocking drivers from the streets near the hospital, and the iDriveArkansas map system shows no traffic on the streets around the facility.
A spokesperson for the hospital said CHI St. Vincent was working with Sherwood police to investigate a suspected incident at CHI St. Vincent North in Sherwood. Shortly after 11 a.m. the hospital confirmed a lockdown was in place.
Video from the scene also showed multiple agencies responding, including the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Police Department, North Little Rock Police Department and the Arkansas State Police. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.