Stephen Carr

A Fayetteville police officer and one suspect are dead after a shooting behind the police station at around 9:42 p.m. near the corner of Rock Street and Block Avenue, one block south of the downtown square.

Officer Stephen Carr, 27, was waiting for his partner before beginning a night shift when he was approached by a suspect and shot “point blank” while sitting inside his patrol car, according to Police Chief Mike Reynolds.

“It appears that the suspect came into the back parking lot and just executed my officer,” said Reynolds.

Reynolds identified the suspect as London T. Phillips, 35, of Fayetteville.

Reynolds said Phillips was later shot and killed by responding officers after being chased into an alley next to the station. Reynolds said Phillips also fired at the responding officers, who then returned fire and shot Phillips multiple times. The entire incident, he said, appears to have occurred in less than 30 seconds.

Emergency responders arrived shortly after the shooting, and began treating both Carr and Phillips, but Reynolds said both died on the scene.

Reynolds called the shooting a “cowardly act” and said it was “the worst day in the history of the Fayetteville Police Department.”

The two officers who fired their weapons have been placed on paid administrative leave as part of the city and police department’s policy until further review. Reynolds said the department has requested that the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations conduct an independent investigation.

At this time, he said, it is not believed that there are any other suspects.

Carr had been with the police department since April 2017. He was part of the Bike Patrol Unit, which is responsible for patrolling the Dickson Street Entertainment District and the Uptown District. The unit has 18 fully equipped police mountain bicycles and the bike officers are responsible for covering their assigned beats, along with special events such as the University of Arkansas football games, Bikes, Blues & BBQ, the Joe Martin Stage Race and Lights of the Ozarks.

The investigation is ongoing.