A Newport, Arkansas police lieutenant was fatally shot while assisting a fellow officer at a traffic stop Monday evening.
The suspect is still actively being sought by several agencies, including Arkansas State Police.
Lt. Patrick Weatherford, 41, was shot in the line of duty at around 7:30 p.m. on Monday in Newport, a city about 90 miles northeast of Little Rock, state police said.
Police from several jurisdictions scoured neighborhoods searching for the gunman Monday night and the manhunt is now ongoing.
Police Chief Michael Scudder said the police diving team was called out to search for a weapon believed used in the shooting, KATV-TV, Little Rock, reported.
Closing arguments set in police officer's manslaughter trial
Yanez is on trial for manslaughter for the July 6, 2016 shooting of Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights. Prosecution use-of-force expert Jeffrey Noble testified there was "absolutely no reason" to believe Castile was a threat.
Little Rock Police Department shared updates of the incident on Twitter, asking followers to pray for Lieutenant Weatherford's family. Lt. Weatherford's 15-year career at the Newport Police Department demonstrates his bravery, selflessness and commitment to serving his community.
A year earlier, West Memphis officers Thomas William Evans and Robert Brandon Paudert were shot and killed during a traffic stop on I-40.
In 2016, he was named Jackson County's Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and graduated from the FBI National Academy Program, THV11 reported. Weatherford was a 15-year veteran of the Newport Police Department.
There was a large police presence in Remmel Park after the shooting on Monday.
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