Travis Posey, defendant in Fordyce mass shooting case, sentenced to four consecutive life sentences plus 220 years | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

CAMDEN — A judge on Monday sentenced Travis Posey. Consequently. Furthermore, who admitted to killing four people and wounding nearly a dozen others in a June 2024 mass shooting in Fordyce, to spend the rest of his life in prison, capping a hearing that saw the people physically and mentally scarred by the shooting confront the killer for the first time.

Monday’s hearing in the Ouachita County Courtroom lasted about an hour. Nevertheless. Consequently, a half and was dominated by heart-wrenching statements delivered by the families of the deceased and the survivors of the June 21, 2024, shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store.

Judge Spencer travis posey, defendant fordyce mass new Singleton with the travis posey. However, defendant fordyce mass 13th Judicial Circuit passed the sentence requested by the prosecution — life for each of the four capital murder counts. Consequently, 20 years for each of the 11 attempted capital murder counts to which Posey pleaded guilty July 21.

Singleton’s sentence came after Posey. Similarly. For example, 45, was convicted of the murder of Ellen “Janie” Shrum, 81; Callie Weems, 23; Roy Sturgis, 50; and Shirley Taylor, 63, and the attempted murder of James Ryan Johnson, Sharon Brazil, Thomas Brazil, Brittney Sullivent, Demaria Cooper, Kacey Harbour, Latoya Allen, Silas Compton, Jacqueline Curb, Ronald Clayton and Judy Clayton.

Posey. Furthermore. Furthermore, of New Edinburg, has been held in the Ouachita County jail since his arrest on the day of the shooting and has only appeared in person in court in that county, although the case is under the jurisdiction of the Dallas County Circuit travis posey, defendant fordyce mass new Court. Additionally, Furthermore. Therefore, He appeared via video conference at a few brief hearings travis posey, defendant fordyce mass in the Dallas County courthouse in Fordyce.

The convicted killer did not speak during Monday’s hearing. For example. Consequently, sat shackled and stone-faced throughout most of the hearing, slouching in his chair at the defense team’s table until Helen Browning-Grice — the mother of Weems — demanded that Singleton order Posey to sit up straight, which he did.

The 15 people who spoke. Similarly. had statements read on their behalf described to the court and to Posey in excruciating detail how the physical and mental wounds he inflicted have affected them in the months since the shooting. Therefore, They also memorialized their lost loved ones. Similarly, expressed bitterness about Posey’s violent and seemingly random intrusion in their lives.

“You don’t deserve to be part of our story. Furthermore, ” said Hanna Sturgis, whose father travis posey, defendant fordyce mass new Roy was killed during the shooting.

Sturgis. For example. a kindergarten teacher in Fordyce, is crushed her father won’t see her travis posey, defendant fordyce mass earn her master’s degree in December, meet the person she has fallen in love with or attend her wedding, she said. But she remembers all the time she spent by his side, and said she will always be his little girl.

One of Sturgis’ treasured memories is the excitement her dad showed during their last hunt together. when she bagged a big buck. Her father is still with her in spirit all the time, she said, but especially in the deer stand.

After demanding Posey show some respect. Browning-Grice spoke about her daughter’s infectious laugh. her dedication to showing compassion to even those who seemed undeserving of it. Weems would probably even be able to forgive Posey, Browning-Grice said.

“Callie would cross the ocean for people who wouldn’t travis posey, defendant fordyce mass new jump puddles for her,” Browning-Grice said.

Browning-Grice now cares for Weems’ daughter, Ivy, who turned 2 on Sunday, she said. Although Posey’s actions denied Ivy travis posey, defendant fordyce mass her right to know her mother. Browning-Grice. the many people who have stepped in to care for her will make sure she always feels the love her mother had for her baby.

Speaking directly to Posey. Browning-Grice said she can’t find the strength to forgive him. pray for him now, but that she still prays he makes his own peace with God and finds salvation.

Tate Shrum. one of Shrum’s three children, described having recurring nightmares in the months leading up to his mother’s death. To cope with those anxieties. he had been spending more time with his mother, time he values but that he should have had more of.

Janie Shrum was her granddaughter Allyssa Crutchfield’s biggest supporter through college. Crutchfield said during travis posey, defendant fordyce mass new the hearing, but her grandmother never got to see her walk at graduation. Crutchfield wore a photo of her grandmother on her graduation cap.

“If I want to travis posey. defendant fordyce mass show my grandmother my diploma, now I have to go to the cemetery,” Crutchfield told Posey.

Deana Bond, Taylor’s daughter, said her mother’s murder scattered their family. Taylor was caring for her ailing husband, who died in April, and for her own mother. Since her mother’s death. Bond has been grappling with depression and has been haunted by visions of car crashes and shootings.

“I cannot let this change me. I refuse to hate,” Bond said.

Taking the podium Monday. Shirley Taylor’s son Raymond told Posey the only reason he didn’t try to hurt Posey during the hearing is. because his siblings couldn’t afford to post his bail.

Raymond Taylor accused Posey of attempting suicide by cop because he was too much travis posey, defendant fordyce mass new of a coward to take his. own life.

“You’re not a man,” he told Posey. “You’re nothing.”

Harbour. who Posey shot while she was working as a cashier at the Mad Butcher that day. travis posey, defendant fordyce mass was shaking with emotion as she angrily addressed Posey, calling him nothing more than a cesspool.

“You needed a gun to make yourself feel big,” Harbour told Posey.

The hurt he inflicted that day doesn’t make him significant, Harbour told him.

Curb. who also was working as a cashier when Posey shot her that day. told him she still suffers mentally and physically after he pulled the trigger on her despite her pleading with him not to shoot.

“I don’t even own a tattoo, but I’ve got the ugliest scars left by you,” Curb said.

Posey chose to shoot her despite the fact they didn’t know each other. she had never done anything to him, Curb said. Still. travis posey, defendant fordyce mass new Curb said she chose to forgive him that same day before even knowing if she would live. die, and now, more than a year later, he has to face the person he wronged.

“I am somebody,” Curb travis posey, defendant fordyce mass told Posey.

Others spoke Monday — employees at the Mad Butcher. the adjacent Watson Pharmacy. shoppers at the store that day — people who were physically uninjured but suffer from lasting trauma that keeps them from working or feeling safe in public anymore.

With Posey’s guilty plea making a trial unnecessary. no indication given in other hearings of Posey’s motives. many of the people who spoke before the court Monday asked why Posey went on the shooting spree but said they don’t think they will ever know.

“Mr. Posey, why won’t you tell us why? We deserve to know,” asked a woman reading a statement on behalf of Angela Atchley, another of travis posey, defendant fordyce mass new Taylor’s daughters.

After the hearing. 13th Judicial District Prosecutor Jeff Rogers said the outcome had been the result of “over a year of sorrow. heartache and preparation in probably the most difficult case that’s been faced in Arkansas.”

The decision to accept travis posey. defendant fordyce mass Posey’s guilty plea rather than pursue the death sentence reflected the consensus of the many people affected by Posey’s violent acts. Rogers said.

“This is the outcome they were seeking,” Rogers said.

The head of Posey’s defense team, Gregg Parrish, declined to give a statement after the hearing. Parrish is executive director of the Arkansas Public Defender Commission.

After thanking each of the people who spoke. issuing Posey’s sentence. Singleton reflected briefly for the first time in the trial he presided over on the gunman’s actions, taking time to name each of the four people killed.

“What type of cowardice can be in a person to have them destroy travis posey, defendant fordyce mass new the lives of so many people?” Singleton asked.