Christopher L. Johnston (Image: Independence County Sheriff’s Office)
UPDATE, March 24, 2026, 1:25 p.m.:
From the Independence County Sheriff’s Office:
An intensive search in Independence County has come to a close.
Authorities apprehended forty-eight-year-old Christopher Johnston early Tuesday afternoon, following a deadly shooting on Brown Lane the day before.
The search for Johnston—previously named a person of interest—intensified today after he was spotted in the Bethesda area. Investigators utilized air units, thermal imaging, and search dogs from the Benny Magness Unit to track him down near B-D Lane.
The investigation began early Monday morning, when deputies arrived at the scene to find one person dead and another already being rushed to the hospital.
Sheriff’s officials say more details on the arrest will be released as they become available.
UPDATE, 10:30 a.m, March 24, 2026: Independence County Sheriff Shawn Stephens tells White River Now on Tuesday morning that the search continues.
One person is dead, and another is recovering after a pre-dawn shooting on Monday in Independence County, with authorities actively searching for a named person of interest.
Deputies with the Independence County Sheriff’s Office responded at approximately 3:20 a.m. Monday to a reported shooting on Brown Lane. Upon arrival, officers found one victim dead at the scene. A second victim had already been transported to a local hospital by family members before deputies arrived, according to the sheriff’s office.
Authorities identified Christopher L. Johnston, born in 1978, as a person of interest in the case. Johnston was last seen in the 1600 block of Bethesda Road, according to investigators.
The sheriff’s office did not release additional details about Johnston’s connection to the shooting.
The investigation remains active, officials said.
Residents in the surrounding area are encouraged to remain alert, keep their doors locked, and report any suspicious activity. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Independence County Sheriff’s Department at (870) 793-8838 or dispatch at (870) 698-2450.
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