Henry Lee Callanen, a 36-year veteran of the Little Rock Police Department, was working an off-duty security job at a local McDonald's on May 15, 1993. As he was making a bank deposit, he was confronted by two individuals who shot and killed him in an apparent robbery attempt. The male officer's death sparked a swift investigation that led to the identification of two suspects: Everett Foreman and Durrell Childress.
Within 24 hours of the shooting, a pivotal traffic stop brought a break
in the case. An officer pulled over a Mustang for a traffic violation, and the 19-year-old driver, who was without a license, was taken into custody. A search of his vehicle uncovered the weapon used to murder Callanen. This led to the arrest of both Childress and Foreman. They were subsequently tried separately for the officer's murder.
Both men were ultimately convicted in connection with the death of Henry Lee Callanen. Durrell Childress was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. Everett Foreman was convicted of first-degree murder and also received a life sentence. Over the years, the case saw various appeals and legal maneuvers. At one point, one of the convicted men was released on bond pending an appeal, which prompted a state representative to introduce legislation to eliminate post-conviction appeal bonds for those convicted of murder. Despite efforts to overturn their convictions, including a clemency request that was denied, both individuals faced the consequences of their actions on that fatal night.
