Joseph Erin Hamley, a 21-year-old male with cerebral palsy, was fatally shot on March 7, 2006, in a case of mistaken identity by law enforcement. On that Tuesday morning, Hamley was walking alone along U.S. Route 412 near Tontitown, Arkansas, when he was confronted by Washington County sheriff's deputies. The officers believed Hamley was Adam Lee Leadford, a teenage fugitive from a Michigan boot camp who was known to be in the area.
There was a notable difference in appearance between the two individuals; Hamley was taller and heavier than the actual fugitive.
Arkansas State Trooper Larry P. Norman arrived at the scene at a high rate of speed. Within moments of his arrival, and as Hamley was lying on the ground, Norman fired a single, fatal shot from his shotgun. An investigation later revealed that the slug ricocheted off the pavement before striking Hamley in the arm and entering his body. Dashcam footage from the police cruisers, which was released to the public after the criminal proceedings, captured the tragic event. After being shot, a wounded Hamley reportedly expressed remorse and questioned why he had been shot.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Trooper Larry P. Norman was charged with negligent homicide. He ultimately pleaded guilty to the charge. His sentence included 90 days in jail, of which he served 54, along with 30 days of community service, one year of probation, and a $1,000 fine. Following the incident, Norman was granted a full early medical retirement from the Arkansas State Police. The family of Joseph Erin Hamley filed a lawsuit against the Arkansas State Police, which was settled for one million dollars. The actual fugitive, Adam Lee Leadford, was later apprehended on the same day as the fatal shooting in the parking lot of a Walmart.
