On May 15, 2015, at approximately 2:30 a.m., 42-year-old Sonny Allan Smith, a reserve deputy with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office in Arkansas, was fatally shot while assisting in the search for a burglary suspect near County Road 1723, approximately 15 miles east of Clarksville.
Deputy Smith, a U.S. Navy veteran and 11-year veteran of the sheriff's office, was part of a team conducting a search for a suspected burglar.
During the operation, he encountered 52-year-old Fred Kauffeld, who was hiding in a wooded area. Kauffeld opened fire with a. 22 caliber handgun, striking Deputy Smith in the neck. Despite his injury, Deputy Smith returned fire, wounding Kauffeld. Kauffeld was apprehended at the scene and later transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. Deputy Smith was also taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.
Following the incident, Kauffeld was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and residential burglary. During his trial, defense attorneys argued that Kauffeld did not know he was shooting at law enforcement officers, suggesting that the deputies did not identify themselves during the encounter. However, the jury convicted Kauffeld on May 27, 2016, sentencing him to 28 years for murder and five years for burglary, with the sentences to run concurrently. He was not found guilty of capital murder.
Deputy Smith is survived by his wife, Amy Jardine Smith, and their four children. He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church of Clarksville and the United Government Security Officers of America Local 23 Union. His dedication to public service and his community is remembered by his colleagues and family.
