Homeowner charged with manslaughter in shooting death of Lt. Jason Adams in Arkansas
Homeowner Mark Pruitt has been charged with manslaughter in the death of firefighter Jason Adams.
A 29-year-old East Pulaski Volunteer Fire Department firefighter was shot and killed after being mistaken for an intruder while responding to assist with a medical emergency Friday morning.
Authorities report the shooting happened about 5 a.m. in the 200 block of Dortch Loop in North Little Rock. A witness tells Channel 7 News East Pulaski volunteer firefighter Jason Adams was responding to a medical emergency call at the house of Mark Pruitt, after Pruitt’s wife reportedly called 911.
Sherwood Fire Department officials say Adams, who lives about a half-mile away from the home he was responding to on Dortch Loop, was a 5 year member of Sherwood FD, but was responding as an East Pulaski VFD member.
Pulaski County homeowner Mark Pruitt charged with manslaughter in the death of Sherwood fireman Jason Adams. #KATV7 pic.twitter.com/9qe7inDqoW
— Jason Pederson (@KATVJason) January 23, 2016
Homeowner Mark Pruitt has been charged withmanslaughter in the fatal shooting of a firefighter Friday morning, the Pulaski County sheriff’s office said in an afternoon news conference.
Pruitt told investigators that someone came into his home without a uniform and without saying who he was.
Officials said Ronald Jason Adams, 29, was killed while responding to a patient with a seizure on Dortch Loop Road outside North Little Rock around 5 a.m.
Officials have yet to release the cause of the shooting.
In addition to being a volunteer firefighter, Adams was also a full-time firefighter with the Sherwood Fire Department. They made a post on their Facebook page Friday morning sending their condolences to Adams’ family.
When Pruitt was asked by reporters if Adams was in uniform, Pruitt said he was not. Law enforcement confirms that when Adams responded to the call at 5 a.m. he was wearing plain clothes.
Sherwood Fire Chief David Teague said, “”He lived and breathed firefighting, and that’s what his family wants you to know about Jason. Being a fireman was what Jason wanted to be, and he dreamed of nothing else. We’ve lost a great man.”
The call came in around 5 a.m., and the person calling said someone at the residence was having a seizure.
When deputies arrived, they found Adams suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital in North Little Rock and later pronounced dead, authorities said.
It is with heavy heart that we announce the loss of our brother Lt. Jason Adams. Jason was making a medical call with…
Posted by Sherwood Fire Department on Friday, January 22, 2016
