On a summer evening in Newport, Arkansas, the life of 41-year-old Patrick Neal Weatherford was tragically cut short. On June 12, 2017, Lieutenant Weatherford, a respected 15-year veteran of the Newport Police Department, was investigating a report of a vehicle break-in. During the investigation, a suspect fled on foot, and Weatherford, along with other officers, gave chase. The pursuit ended abruptly when the suspect turned and opened fire, fatally wounding the decorated officer.
Weatherford was rushed to a local hospital, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries. His death marked the second fatal shooting of an Arkansas police officer in the line of duty that year.
The man responsible for Lieutenant Weatherford's death was a teenager. Initially identified in some reports as Tyler Calamese, and in others as Derrick Heard, the suspect was 16 years old at the time of the shooting. He turned himself in to authorities approximately 90 minutes after the incident. Despite his age, the gravity of the crime led to the decision that he would be tried as an adult. He was subsequently charged with capital murder.
In the wake of the shooting, the community mourned the loss of a dedicated officer who was remembered for his bravery and service. Weatherford was not only a committed law enforcement professional but also a husband and father. He had been recognized as the Jackson County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2016 and was a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy. In 2020, the legal proceedings came to a close when the suspect pleaded guilty to the charges against him. He was sentenced to 42 years in prison for the murder of Lieutenant Patrick Neal Weatherford.
