A FAMILY has been left mourning the loss of their daughter after the 23-year-old nurse was killed in a shooting on Friday that left two others dead.
Helen Browning immediately examined her daughter, Callie Weems, a nurse at Dallas County Medical Center in Fordyce, Arkansas, after hearing News of a shootout.
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“I checked Callie’s location because good old Live 360 and it showed she was in hospital” Browning told local Fox affiliate KLRT-TV.
“I’m thinking, ‘She’s at work. She came to help,’ there was… she was in town…”
But Callie’s silence scared her mother, who rushed to the scene with her husband, Bruce Grice, where she discovered the truth that no parent wants to hear.
“My best friend was there and I said, ‘Kristie, tell me my baby is okay.’ and she said, ‘I can’t,'” Browning said.
“And that’s when I just broke down.”
Callie was one of three people who were shot to death while shopping at the Mad Butcher supermarket.
The nurse left behind her 10-month-old daughter, Ivy, and her family, who say they can’t understand this.
“I just want to know why Joey Posey woke up this morning and decided he needed to ruin families’ lives,” Browning said, referring to the accused shooter, 44-year-old Travis Eugene “Joey” Posey.
Posey was arrested after being involved in a shootout with the state of Arkansas Police this left him seriously injured, however he is expected to survive.
Callie family said their pain is even deeper because they were related to another of the three victims killed in the tragedy.
“Our niece’s father was also there and is no longer with us,” Browning said.
“So this is a double whammy for our family.”
Now, Browning is learning to navigate the world without her daughter and is left with her granddaughter alone.
“Ivy was his saving grace, just as she was mine,” she said.
“And now she will be mine too.”
TRAGEDY ATTACKS
Authorities say Travis Posey opened fire at the supermarket shortly after 11:30 a.m., shooting 10 people and resulting in the deaths of three people.
Two of the victims were identified as Callie Weems and her 63-year-old grandmother, Shirley Kay Ivey.
A man, who Callie is family Said to be her relative, he was also killed, but has not yet been identified.
Witnesses say Posey shot at the supermarket’s front window before firing a hail of bullets inside.
Two police officers were shot but are expected to survive, the state of Arkansas said Police.
I just want to know why Joey Posey woke up this morning and decided he needed to ruin his families’ lives.
Helen Browning
Of the injured victims, police said their injuries range from “non-life-threatening to extremely critical.”
Posey was “shot in the head” after his shooting with police before being taken into custody, according to the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Department prisoner file.
He faces three counts of capital murder, with more charges expected, authorities said.
The motive for the horrific crime is unclear at this time.
Posey is from New Edinburg, located just 12 miles from Fordyce, authorities said.
Fordyce is a small town of just over 3,000 people – about 70 miles from Little Rock.
‘HEROIC ACTION’
Following the shooting, several lawmakers spoke out.
“I am grateful to law authorities and first responders for their quick and heroic action to save lives,” said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in a tweet.
“My prayers are with the victims and everyone affected by this terrible incident,” she continued.
Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge called the shooting “devastating.”
“My most sincere prayers are with all the victims and their families, our first respondersespecially the injured law police officers and the entire Dallas County community affected by this needlessly tragic act of violence,” she said.
Senator John Boozman said he was heartbroken by the horrific violence in Fordyce” and “grateful for the courage and bravery of law enforcement agents and first responders.”
The US Sun has reached out to the Ouachita County and Dallas County sheriff’s departments and the Arkansas State Police for comment.
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