FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) — A suspect in an early morning shooting in Fayetteville was arrested four hours later in Moffett, Oklahoma after a school resource officer alerted deputies about where he could be.
Officers were dispatched to the Bedford Loop Apartments a few blocks from the University of Arkansas campus in regards to a shooting around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday (Feb. 27) morning.
When officers arrived, they found the victim Tyler Yeakley, 31, with a gunshot wound to his head. He was transported to a local medical facility. Yeakley's injuries were considered "life-threatening," according to police.
The alleged shooter, Lee Massey, left the scene before officers arrived.
After hearing a BOLO (Be On The Lookout) sent out by Fayetteville police, a Moffett resource officer alerted deputies to a possible location of Massey, according to Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane.
"He apparently knew the guy [Massey]," Lane said of the school resource officer, who is a deputy with the department. Because he knew him, he knew where his relatives lived.
Massey was arrested for first-degree battery at a residence in Moffett 30 minutes later.
"It was great work by my deputies," Lane said.
Rachel Birmingham lives in the area and said she and her roommates heard the whole situation unfold that morning.
"My roommate was up getting ready for the day and I heard her on the phone with 911," Birmingham said. "I asked her what happened and she said she heard a shooting and a girl screaming."
Birmingham said the uncertainty of the situation was frightening.
"I mean I was wide awake after that," Birmingham said. "I was scared to go back to bed and scared if our garage was open that they would come in . I just didn't know."
Birmingham said the situation happening so close to home was alarming, but she is glad the suspect was found.
The Fayetteville Police Department says they worked very closely with the Fort Smith Police Department, Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office and Moffett, during the arrest.
The investigation into what caused the shooting is on-going.
