Carlisle, Arkansas – A traffic stop on Wednesday turned deadly after a Michigan man was shot and killed by Arkansas State Police officers. The man, identified as 33-year-old Felipe Millan-Gomez, was stopped on Interstate 40 near Carlisle, about 25 miles east of Little Rock. Millan-Gomez, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was wanted in connection with a violent armed carjacking and kidnapping in Manistee County, Michigan, earlier this month.
The shooting occurred around 1:30 p.m. when Arkansas State Police officers initiated the traffic stop at the 18-mile marker on I-40. According to state police reports, Millan-Gomez had been considered “armed and dangerous” after the carjacking incident on June 9, where he allegedly threatened a woman with a gun and forced her to drive him before eventually stealing her vehicle. Police had been on the lookout for him ever since.
When the officers stopped Millan-Gomez’s vehicle, he reportedly exited the car and brandished a weapon. In response, the troopers opened fire, striking Millan-Gomez. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
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In accordance with standard procedure, Millan-Gomez’s body has been transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy. The Arkansas State Police’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is conducting a thorough investigation into the shooting. Once the investigation is completed, the findings will be turned over to the Lonoke County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. It will then be up to the prosecuting attorney to determine whether the use of deadly force by the officers was justified under Arkansas law.
This tragic incident follows a series of high-profile officer-involved shootings in the state and has sparked questions about the circumstances surrounding the use of lethal force. As investigations continue, the Arkansas State Police are committed to transparency and will work with the relevant authorities to ensure a complete and thorough review of the events.
While the investigation remains ongoing, authorities have confirmed that Millan-Gomez’s criminal history and the charges in Michigan were central to the actions taken by law enforcement. The Arkansas State Police did not release the names of the officers involved in the shooting, citing the ongoing investigation.
State police had been closely monitoring Millan-Gomez’s whereabouts after the armed carjacking, and this incident further underscores the risks law enforcement faces when dealing with suspects believed to be armed and dangerous. Arkansas State Police have promised to provide additional updates once the investigation has been completed and reviewed by the local prosecuting attorney.
The death of Millan-Gomez has raised further questions about policing tactics, especially in high-risk traffic stops involving suspects with violent criminal backgrounds. Local communities continue to await more information as the case moves forward in the legal system.
