West Memphis Police Officers Brandon Paudert & Bill Evans, Fatally Shot During Traffic Stop

Two West Memphis, AR, police officers were shot and killed Thursday during a traffic stop. Officer Brandon Paudert, 39, son of West Memphis Police Chief Bob Paudert, was shot in the back of the head, according to WTVM. The other officer who died is being reported as Bill Evans.

The shooting happened late Thursday morning near Interstate 40 and Airport Road.  The suspect or suspects in the shooting are still at large.  Police are searching for a vehicle with an Ohio license plate in connection to the shooting.  Both the I-40 and I-55 bridges into Memphis have been closed as officials search for the car. 

According to the Commercial Appeal, Crittenden County sheriff Dick Busby and his chief of patrol, W.A. Wren were later shot in a second encounter with the suspects in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart store. The two suspects were later shot and wounded when officers exchanged fire with the occupants of a van believed allegedly occupied by the perpetrators. Memphis television station WMC is reporting that two suspects were killed. Officials have said a third suspect was involved in the incident.

Officers Paudert and Evans were assigned to the West Memphis Police Department's drug interdiction unit. This is a sad turn of events.