Columbus, AR – A confrontation in Hempstead County escalated fatally when a deputy shot a man during a warrant service. The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division is probing the incident, which transpired on the evening of Thursday, April 11, 2024.
Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office deputies were at a residence on Highway 73 to serve a felony arrest warrant when Randy May, 65, reportedly met them at his door armed with a machete. According to a witness, May charged at the deputies, prompting one to discharge his service weapon, fatally wounding May at the scene.
The Arkansas State Police will compile an investigative report for the Hempstead County Prosecuting Attorney to assess whether the shooting aligns with state legal standards for the use of deadly force.
