Officer Kyle Newman of the Fort Smith Police Department continues to recover after being shot in the neck by a suspect last Sunday. As of May 24, he remains in critical but stable condition, with encouraging progress reported by the department.

The incident occurred when Officer Newman approached a truck that had crashed into a ditch near the local amphitheater. The driver, Joseph Keller, was being investigated for driving while intoxicated. Keller became argumentative, returned to his truck, and attempted to flee. During the attempt to detain him, Keller shot Officer Newman in the neck.

Despite his injury, Officer Newman managed to fire his weapon as he fell. A nearby officer, responding to the gunfire, reported the incident and fired at Keller’s truck before assisting Newman. Keller led police on a chase along Interstate 540, which ended when he crashed near the Grand Avenue exit. An officer-involved shooting occurred as police approached, resulting in Keller’s death. A handgun was found in his truck.

Community Support and Challenges

The Fort Smith community has shown overwhelming support for Officer Newman and his family. The police department expressed deep gratitude for the prayers, messages, and acts of kindness extended during this difficult time.

However, the situation has been complicated by the circulation of a fake AI-generated video on Facebook. The video falsely depicts Officer Newman thanking the public for their support. The Fort Smith Police Department has urged the community not to share this misleading content, as it is particularly distressing for Officer Newman’s family and colleagues. The video has been reported to Facebook for further action.

As Officer Newman continues his recovery, the community remains hopeful and supportive, standing by him and his family in faith and solidarity.

Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.