In the late afternoon of August 5, 2021, a violent series of events unfolded on the streets of Wynne, Arkansas, leaving one man dead and another wounded. Daniel William Smith, a 31-year-old male from the neighboring community of Forrest City, was found by Wynne police officers around 5:45 p.m., his body lying next to a sport utility vehicle on West Mulberry Street. He had succumbed to injuries sustained in a gunfight.
Inside the same vehicle, authorities discovered 32-year-old Douglas Miller, also of Forrest City, who was injured but alive. Miller was promptly transported to a local hospital for treatment and was later released.
The investigation, soon taken over by the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division at the request of the Wynne Police Department, began to piece together the chaotic timeline. It was determined that Smith and Miller, along with a third individual, 29-year-old Christopher Scott of Wynne, had driven to a residence at 529 West Mulberry Street. There, it is believed they targeted 29-year-old Denzel Mason of Wynne with gunfire. Mason, who was not injured in the initial confrontation, then pursued the sport utility vehicle a short distance to 321 West Mulberry. It was at this location that a second exchange of gunfire erupted, this time involving Mason and the occupants of the truck.
In the aftermath of the deadly shootout, law enforcement officials took three individuals into custody based on orders from the Cross County prosecuting attorney. Denzel Mason was arrested and subsequently charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Daniel Smith. The two men who were in the vehicle with Smith, Douglas Miller and Christopher Scott, were also arrested. They face charges of committing a terroristic act and criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder. The investigation suggests a targeted act of violence that escalated into a fatal public gun battle.
