Authorities report a Walnut Ridge woman who fired at law enforcement officers was found dead in her home following a standoff.
About 3:15 a.m. Aug. 21, Arkansas State Police said in a statement that when Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies and local police officers entered the home of Jennifer Shirley, 44, of 244 CR 429 near Walnut Ridge, Shirley was found inside holding a gun.
Shirley had agreed to set the gun aside when one law enforcement fired a less-than-lethal device at the woman, the statement said. Shirley then grabbed the gun and began shooting, according to the statement.
Law enforcement officers report they did not return fire at Shirley and escaped the house uninjured.
A law enforcement perimeter was set up around the residence and in the hours that followed, an Arkansas State Trooper established a line of communication with Shirley. The communications continued until shortly after 7 a.m. when smoke was seen coming from inside the house.
Emergency responders with deputies and police officers who entered the residence to extinguish the fire found Shirley dead. Her body was being transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory where a manner and cause of death will be determined.
Special Agents of the state police Criminal Investigation Division are leading the investigation that is continuing.
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