Arkansas State Police have identified a McRae teenager as the person shot and killed by a Lonoke County deputy during a traffic stop early Wednesday.
Hunter Brittain, 17, of McRae was the driver of a truck stopped by the deputy south of Cabot along Arkansas 89 at about 3 a.m. Wednesday, according to a state police news release on Wednesday afternoon. State police said the stop "ended in a shooting incident."
Brittain was transported to a North Little Rock hospital, where he later died, according to the release.
State police had initially spelled Brittain's name as "Britain," but later confirmed that his name was spelled "Brittain."
Special agents assigned to the state police Criminal Investigation Division are leading the investigation at the request of the Lonoke County sheriff’s office.
"The circumstances of the traffic stop and what may have led up to the deputy firing his gun" will be documented in the investigation, according to the news release.
The Lonoke County sheriff's office later Wednesday identified Sgt. Michael Davis as the deputy in the Wednesday morning shooting. He has been with agency the since 2013.
Davis has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.
—Ashton Eley
1:10 p.m.: Lonoke County deputy fatally shoots teen during traffic stop, authorities say
A Lonoke County deputy shot and killed a teen during a traffic stop near Cabot at about 3 a.m. Wednesday, authorities said.
Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley said he spoke with the family of the boy who was shot near a body shop on Arkansas 89 just south of Cabot, and the family told the sheriff the boy had died. Staley said the investigation was immediately turned over to the Arkansas State Police, which had not released any information about the shooting by early Wednesday afternoon.
The deputy involved has been placed on leave, Staley said. The deputy was issued a body camera, but Staley referred any questions about possible footage to State Police.
Staley called it a horrible situation.
A group has organized a demonstration in response to the shooting at the sheriff's office this afternoon. Staley said he will have an area designated for anyone that attends and will speak with them.
—Ashton Eley
10:18 a.m.
A traffic stop conducted early Wednesday by a Lonoke County deputy ended in a shooting, authorities said.
The traffic stop happened around 3 a.m., according to a Facebook post by the Lonoke County sheriff’s office. The post didn’t indicate who was shot or the nature of any injuries, and a call to the sheriff's office Wednesday morning wasn't immediately returned.
The investigation was turned over to Arkansas State Police, authorities said.
In an email, state police spokesperson Bill Sadler declined to immediately provide further details about the shooting, but said more information would later be released.
—Brianna Kwasnik