In a tragic turn of events on March 22, 1981, Arthur Criswell, a 33-year-old man, was fatally shot at Tommy's Old Fashioned Home-Style Restaurant in Conway, Arkansas. The incident, which also left two other men wounded, was initiated by 28-year-old Ricky Ray Rector, who entered the establishment and opened fire with a. 38-caliber pistol. Criswell was struck in the forehead and throat and died from his injuries.
Following the shooting, Rector fled the scene, sparking a manhunt by local
authorities. The search for Rector continued for two days. On March 24, the situation escalated when Officer Bob Martin of the Conway Police Department visited the home of Rector's mother. While Officer Martin was speaking with Rector's family, Rector appeared and fatally shot the officer. Immediately after, Rector attempted to take his own life by shooting himself in the head, which resulted in a severe brain injury.
Rector was subsequently arrested and faced legal proceedings for both killings. He was first tried and convicted of the first-degree murder of Arthur Criswell, for which he received a sentence of life imprisonment. Following this, he was tried for the capital murder of Officer Bob Martin. Despite arguments from his defense regarding his mental competency due to his self-inflicted brain injury, he was found competent to stand trial. A jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death. After a series of appeals that drew national attention to his mental state, Ricky Ray Rector was executed by lethal injection on January 24, 1992.
