Van Buren : Stakeout nets shooting suspect
Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007
VAN BUREN — Police arrested a shooting suspect Wednesday morning after staking out a Van Buren motel where he was staying.
Brandon Fritts, 25, of Greenwood was arrested without incident at the Meadors Inn in Van Buren. Police received a tip that Fritts and his girlfriend were hiding out at the motel, Sebastian County sheriff’s Capt. Bill Hollenbeck said.
Sheriff’s investigators were seeking Fritts in Monday’s shooting of Keith Elmore, 32, at his home between Hartford and Huntington in south Sebastian County.
Hollenbeck said Elmore was returning home about 2: 30 p. m. when he saw Fritts parked at the residence pretending to have car trouble.
When Elmore approached, Fritts shot him at point-blank range in the face and the elbow, Hollenbeck said.
Investigators were trying to determine a motive for the shooting Wednesday. The men were acquaintances, Hollenbeck said.
Elmore was listed in serious but stable condition Wednesday at a local hospital, which Hollenbeck would not name for security reasons.
Special Weapons and Tactics teams from the Van Buren Police Department and Sebastian County sheriff’s office staked out the motel room until Fritts emerged. Greenwood police also assisted, Hollenbeck said.
Fritts was booked into the Sebastian County jail on suspicion of attempted capital murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
He was being held without bond.
Fritts’ girlfriend, Tracy Hayworth, was not arrested, Hollenbeck said.
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