Authorities on Tuesday afternoon identified a man who was fatally shot after confronting a north Arkansas sheriff's deputy with a crossbow.
Michael Lavelle Holliman, 50, who listed a Nacogdoches, Texas, address, was killed Monday night in Lone Rock, the Baxter County sheriff's office said in a news release.
A deputy was responding to a call at a nearby store when he saw Holliman on a tractor that matched the description of one that had been stolen earlier in the day, the release states.
The deputy stopped the tractor, and Holliman confronted him with a crossbow, according to the sheriff's office, prompting the deputy to open fire.
The deputy, identified as Craig Gates, reportedly suffered minor injuries. He has been with the Baxter County sheriff's office since July 2015 and before that worked for another law enforcement agency in Arkansas, according to the release. Gates has since been placed on administrative leave, per the agency's policy.
Holliman's body has been sent to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy, the sheriff's office said.
Law enforcement officers said they found a disabled vehicle registered to Holliman near the scene as well as a backpack, a cache of food, clothing, car keys and other items at a makeshift campsite in a wooded area.
Authorities later confirmed Holliman was operating the stolen tractor. Arkansas State Police agents are investigating.
Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
