Batesville, AR – A shooting incident at Littlefield Gas Station on Westside has left a retired police officer injured and airlifted for medical care. The officer involved has been identified as Buck Riggs, who reportedly fired shots after being attacked by a young man allegedly under the influence of K2, a synthetic drug.
According to reports, the suspect was harassing store clerks, prompting the manager to ask him to leave. When confronted outside, the man began causing a disturbance with a group of teenagers. Riggs, witnessing the situation, stepped out of his truck and instructed the suspect to move along.
At that point, the suspect allegedly turned on Riggs and began assaulting him. In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, Riggs fired two warning shots into the air, but the suspect continued his aggression. During the altercation, on a third shot, the suspect reportedly slapped Riggs’ hand, causing the bullet to strike the gas station building, narrowly missing a clerk inside.
A physical struggle ensued, during which Riggs was severely beaten and had to use his firearm to defend himself. Riggs, who was already recovering from a previous hip surgery, is believed to have re-injured his hip during the attack. He was later airlifted to Little Rock for medical treatment.
As of now, no further details on the suspect’s condition or potential charges have been released. Authorities are investigating the incident.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.
