On a Saturday morning in June of 2021, the life of 35-year-old Zakary Scott Chumney was tragically cut short. Deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office were called to a residence on Sulphur Springs Road in Mabelvale, Arkansas, at approximately 7:44 a.m. following reports of a disturbance. Upon their arrival, they discovered Chumney suffering from a single gunshot wound to his torso.
Despite immediate efforts to render aid, including CPR, his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting quickly identified a suspect, 34-year-old Bradley Scott Hartley. According to witnesses at the scene, Hartley fled into a nearby wooded area, armed with a gun, immediately following the incident. In response, the Arkansas Department of Corrections K-9 team was dispatched to conduct a thorough search of the vicinity in an attempt to locate him.
The manhunt, however, came to a peaceful conclusion a short time later. Hartley himself contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and arranged to surrender. He was taken into custody from a nearby residence without any further incident. Following his arrest, Hartley was charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Zakary Chumney. While the suspect was in custody, authorities stated that the investigation into the circumstances that led to the shooting remained active and ongoing.
