In the rural town of Leslie, Arkansas, a routine domestic welfare check on a Thursday morning spiraled into a tragedy that claimed the life of 56-year-old Mike Stephen. A 20-year veteran of law enforcement and a U.S. Army veteran, Stephen served as a sergeant with the Stone County Sheriff's Department. On July 18, 2019, he was the first to arrive at a residence on Flag Road after the sheriff's department received a call for a welfare check.
Upon his arrival at approximately 8:39 a.m.,
Sergeant Stephen encountered a woman outside the home and began to speak with her. In a sudden turn of events, gunfire erupted from the residence. Both Stephen and the woman were struck by the shots. The sergeant was pronounced dead at the scene, succumbing to his injuries. The female victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The suspected shooter was identified as Samuel Fullerton, 39, who was also found deceased at the scene. The circumstances of Fullerton's death were not immediately clear, with authorities investigating whether he took his own life or was shot by other deputies who had arrived at the scene. Following the incident, an investigation was launched by the Arkansas State Police to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting.
Sergeant Mike Stephen was remembered by his colleagues as a dedicated and courageous officer, described by the Stone County Chief Deputy Sheriff as always being the 'first guy in somewhere and the last one out.' In addition to his law enforcement career, Stephen was also the chief of the Pineville Volunteer Fire Department, further demonstrating his commitment to public service. His death was mourned by the community and law enforcement agencies across the state, with the governor ordering flags to be flown at half-staff in his honor.
