Dwain Freeman, a 40-year-old man, was killed on January 9, 2015, in England, Arkansas, after a dispute inside a home on Southeast 3rd Street where he lived with a relative. A witness told authorities that during the argument, Jimmy Freeman retrieved a Colt. 45 revolver and shot Dwain inside the residence. The witness then heard three more shots. When England police officers arrived, they repeatedly ordered Jimmy to put the gun down. Instead, he fired another round into Dwain’s body, according to accounts later reviewed by prosecutors.
Officers at the scene reported that Jimmy pointed the handgun toward Officer John Siems after refusing commands. Officer Siems opened fire, striking Jimmy, and the confrontation ended with both the gunman and the victim fatally wounded. The Arkansas State Police announced the investigation that afternoon, noting that two men had died in the law-enforcement-involved incident outside the residence.
The Lonoke County prosecuting attorney later determined that Officer Siems was justified in using deadly force. In a written finding, Prosecutor Chuck Graham cited multiple witnesses who saw Jimmy shoot and kill Dwain and then aim his weapon at the officer, concluding the officer reasonably believed deadly force was necessary to protect himself and others. Because the suspected shooter died at the scene, there were no arrests. A memorial listing separately recorded the victim’s age as 40 and the date and city of the killing as January 9, 2015, in England, Arkansas.
