Off Deputy Sheriff Shoots Unarmed Man - Can An Armed Cop Shoot You If You Grab His Neck?

The Washington County Sheriff says an investigation is underway after an off-duty Oklahoma deputy shot a man in rural Washington County.

Published: 6:39 PM CDT September 6, 2022
Updated: 9:25 AM CDT September 14, 2022
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WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — An investigation is underway after a man was shot by an off-duty Oklahoma deputy in Washington County.

According to Sheriff Tim Helder with the Washington County Sheriff's Office (WCSO), just before 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, deputies responded to a shooting on Pleasant Hill Road in the rural Lincoln area.

After they arrived, deputies say they found one man who was shot twice in the abdomen by Travis Adams, an off-duty Adair County Oklahoma deputy, according to WCSO.

The man's family identified him as Justin Hellyer. Hellyer was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center where his family says he is in critical condition.

"He still in the ICU. He was taking back to emergency surgery yesterday,“ said Hellyer's aunt, Cindy Johnson.

Hellyer's family says he was unharmed during the altercation and exchanged words with Adams before the shooting.

“You’re trespassing on property…call the cops," said a voicemail Hellyer left his aunt, Cindy Johnson, during his argument with Adams.

“It broke my heart, I figured/feared he was going to die," said Johnson.

According to Kelly Cantrell with WCSO, the gun used by Adams was his service weapon. Cantrell also says Adams was living on the property where the shooting took place.

At this time, police have not made an arrest in connection to this shooting.

5NEWS has reached out to the Washington County prosecutor to see if any charges will be filed in this case, but the prosecutor says that the Washington County Sheriff's office has not turned over the case to them yet. The prosecutor's office believes there will be a few days before the case is turned over to them.

The investigative file was turned over to Washington County Prosecuting Attorney, Matt Durrett on Sept. 14.

Part of the incident was captured on video by a witness and later released by the WCSO.

In the video, you do not see what led to the altercation, but you do see the man who was shot arguing with Adams prior to the shooting. The man can be seen grabbing Adams by the throat just before Adams opens fire.

The investigative file will be submitted to the Washington County Prosecuting Attorney for review.

According to information released by the Adair County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Jason Ritchie is aware of the incident and says that Deputy Adams will be placed on administrative leave while there is an ongoing investigation.

The following statement was released via the Adair County Sheriff's Office Facebook page:

"I Adair County Sheriff Jason Ritchie am aware of the incident that took place in Washington County Arkansas with off duty Adair county Sheriff Deputy Travis Adams. I intend to cooperate fully and trust Washington County will do a thorough investigation. Deputy Adams will be on Admin leave pending the investigation."

Justin Hellyer was shot previously by a Lincoln Police Officer on Feb. 6, 2012. The Lincoln Police Department says Officer Chris Williams shot Hellyer in the leg when he displayed a knife following a high speed chase on Rheas Community Road near Lincoln Lake. Hellyer denied having a knife and investigators were never able to locate it.