In what began as a routine traffic stop, the life of a dedicated officer was irrevocably altered, setting in motion a chain of events that would end in tragedy. Sergeant Wayne M. Warwick, a 36-year-old male serving with the Hot Springs Police Department, initiated a traffic stop in front of the Garland County Sheriff's Office headquarters on July 24, 1984.
Unbeknownst to the 11-year veteran of the force, the driver he pulled over was on his way to commit further violence.
During the stop, the driver, identified as Wayne Crossley, opened fire on Sergeant Warwick with a. 45 caliber handgun, striking him in the leg and groin. The sudden and violent act left the officer seriously wounded. Following the shooting, Crossley fled to a nearby hotel where he continued his rampage, tragically shooting and killing innocent bystanders before taking his own life.
Sergeant Warwick was left paralyzed as a result of the grievous injuries he sustained in the line of duty. For two years, he endured the consequences of that fateful day. On Friday, September 5, 1986, Sergeant Wayne M. Warwick succumbed to the injuries he had received, his death a direct result of the violent encounter. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son. The suspect in his shooting, Wayne Crossley, had committed suicide on the day of the initial incident, leaving behind a wake of senseless violence.
