On Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at approximately 3:15 p.m., officers of the Blytheville Police Department were dispatched to a convenience store in 3600 block of S. Division Street in reference to a subject shot.
"While en route officers were redirected to the 3700 block of S. Division at the South Bound entrance ramp of I55 where it appeared a motor vehicle collision had occurred," Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson wrote in a press release. "On arrival officers located a black pickup truck with a small trailer in a ditch, a smoldering fire coming from the truck, and two subjects shot. One of those subjects, found lying on the ground beside the truck, was 57-year-old Randal Churchwell of Harrisburg, AR. The other subject, lying in the roadway, was 23-year-old W/M Austin Davis of Pocahontas, IL."
Thompson said Churchwell was able to report to officers that he pulled off the road to adjust the load on the trailer when Davis walked up and got in his truck. Churchwell reported a fight broke out between them as he tried to get Davis out of his truck when, according to Churchwell, Davis shot him. Churchwell reported he tried to drive away but ended up stuck in the ditch. His efforts to get unstuck and away from the scene caused the minor fire.
"Officers also located individuals on scene from Blytheville, who reported they were driving by and stopped to help but Davis turned on them, assaulting and chasing them back to their car,' Thompson said. "They were armed with a firearm and shot Davis after giving him warnings to stop the assault."
"The Blytheville Police Department confirmed the Blytheville citizen was licensed by the State of Arkansas to carry a concealed firearm. Churchwell and Davis were transported to the Great River Medical Center and later transferred to other facilities. They both remain in critical condition at the time of this release."
"The Blytheville citizens that stopped to help sustained minor injuries and released from the scene pending further investigation," he continued. "At this time, we are not anticipating any charges against them, and the department will not be releasing their identity. A Blytheville Police Department SkyCop camera captured the entire event. The department is also looking into information that Davis had stolen a vehicle in Illinois and in the county outside the city the night before. It was a chaotic scene as officers rendered aid to the injured, secured evidence, faced a vehicle fire and heavy traffic. We want to thank Pafford EMS and the Blytheville Fire Department for their quick response and assistance. We do not want something like this to prevent citizens from helping when we find each other in need. We do remind you to use caution, be aware of your surroundings and always be prepared."