Suspect evading arrest hospitalized following officer-involved shooting in Little Rock

Little Rock, Arkansas – In a recent incident over the weekend, a 20-year-old suspect, Brenden Johnson, was shot by a Little Rock police officer while attempting to evade arrest, following a vehicular chase. The police department released more details on the event on Tuesday.

The pursuit began with two suspects in a stolen Dodge Challenger early on Saturday morning. However, the chase concluded at 8401 Mabelvale Pike. Shortly after the end of the chase, authorities lost sight of the Challenger, which was later found abandoned.

While conducting a search around the vicinity, officers noticed a pickup truck that seemed to be scouting the area and making an attempt to leave. The police recount in a news release, “As officers searched the immediate area, a pickup truck was observed circling the area and attempted to leave. With weapons drawn, officers cautiously approached the vehicle giving verbal commands instructing the occupants to exit the vehicle.”

While the truck’s driver adhered to the police’s orders, Johnson, an Alexander resident, shifted from the back to the driver’s seat, seemingly ignoring the law enforcement’s directives to halt and leave the vehicle. Subsequently, Officer Johvoni McClendon discharged his firearm, hitting Johnson.

Emergency medical aid was immediately rendered to Johnson at the scene before he was transported to a nearby hospital. Initially in critical condition, his status has now been updated to stable.

In the aftermath of the shooting, the Little Rock Police Department announced the launch of two investigations: one focusing on the officer’s discharge of his weapon and another probing into the criminal aspects of the incident.