In the quiet town of Pocahontas, Arkansas, a sudden act of violence shattered the community on March 14, 1982. Sergeant James R. Hand, a 47-year-old White / Caucasian male, was shot and killed in a shocking attack at the Pocahontas Police Station. The assailant, a juvenile armed with a high-powered rifle, had concealed himself in a nearby tree, turning a place of law and order into a tragic crime scene.
From this hidden vantage point, the juvenile gunman opened fire, fatally wounding
Sergeant Hand. In the midst of the chaos, another officer at the station was able to react swiftly, returning fire at the assailant. The officer's decisive action resulted in the death of the juvenile suspect at the scene, preventing any further loss of life.
The motive for the juvenile's calculated and deadly assault remains a somber question. The incident left the local community and the law enforcement fraternity mourning the loss of a dedicated officer. Sergeant Hand was survived by his wife and three children, who were left to grapple with the sudden and senseless loss of their loved one. Because the sole suspect was killed at the scene, there were no ensuing arrests or trials, leaving the community to heal from the tragic events of that day.
