OSCEOLA, Ark. — A man pulled over by police and a bystander at a nearby house were both hit by bullets in an officer-involved shooting early Monday morning.
Arkansas State Police say an Osceola officer pulled over 24-year-old Pete Edwards around 12:40 a.m. in the 400 block of Semmes Avenue in Osceola. He was reportedly “non-compliant” and eventually shots were fired.
The suspect was wounded and taken to the hospital for treatment. State police said a person inside a nearby home was also injured when a bullet entered their home.
The ASP is investigating. It’s unclear if the suspect will face any charges.
“Thank God I’m here. It could have been me,” said Mabelene Morens, who was shot in the foot.
She said she was walking into her house on East Semmes when she noticed an unfamiliar vehicle parked out front with a police car behind it.
“All I seen was, he told him to get out of his car, and put his hands up. Dude did. He said, ‘Lay down.'”
Morens said the man didn’t listen.
“He was fixing to run and that’s when the police shot him,” she said.
Morens heard about five shots. One pierced a nearby truck, one went through her home and another hit her left foot.
“When I took my shoe off, I was like, oh my God. My foot was swelling up. The bullet was in my shoe,” she said.
Another man, who didn’t want to be identified, said he saw a guy laying on his stomach.
“The police checked his pocket. I didn’t see a weapon or anything come out,” he said.
Morens said she didn’t see a weapon on the man, either, and Arkansas State Police — who are now heading up the case — haven’t said if the man was armed.
State officials said they’re gathering evidence and will turn over their findings to the district attorney.