Posey Receives 4 Life Sentences, 220 Years

RISON - Travis Eugene "Joey" Posey, 45, of New Edinburg, was formally sentenced Monday to life in prison without parole on four counts of capital murder and an additional 220 years on 11 counts of attempted capital murder, all related to the June 2024 mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce.Thirteenth Judicial District Circuit Judge Spencer Singleton formally sentenced Posey in Ouachita County Circuit Court at Camden on Monday. While the crime took place in Dallas County, Posey had been held at Ouachita County Jail since his arrest last year, and all the court proceedings have been held there as well.The prosecution was led by 13th Judicial District Prosecutor Jeff Rogers.After originally pleading innocent, Posey, through his courtappointed attorney James Wyatt, agreed to a guilty plea on July 16 to serve life without the possibility of parole for the four capital murder charges, and 20 year sentences for each of the 11 attempted capital murder charges.Posey could have faced the death penalty had the charges gone to trial.Judge Singleton sentenced Posey to all four life sentences, and 11 consecutive 20-year sentences for attempted capital murder for a total of 220 years.State Police reported that Posey entered the Mad Butcher store at 920 West Fourth Street in Fordyce at about 11:38 a.m. Friday, June 21, 2024. He shot people inside the store as well as outside in the parking lot. Four people died from the shooting, including Cleveland County residents Callie Weems,23, and Roy Sturgis, 50, both of Kingsland. The other two victims were Ellen Shrum, 81, and Shirley Taylor, 62, both of Fordyce.State Police reported 15 people were injured from gunfire, including 12 civilians, two police officers, and Posey himself. The ages of those wounded ranged from 20 to 65.The 11 counts of attempted capital murder were related to those shot or shot at in the parking lot.The Arkansas Democr...