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Police were called to a home on S. 35th Terrace in Fort Smith around 11:30 a.m. because of a domestic dispute. 41-year-old Eric Berry was shot and killed after an altercation with police. Police had been called by Berry's wife, Connie Berry, who claimed her husband had been chasing her with a gun.
Neighbors say they were shocked when their normally quiet block was taken over by cop cars, EMS, and fire trucks.
"My husband and I were in eating lunch and we heard sirens and cop cars and we ran out to see and we were just amazed the whole block was taped off, the house was taped off, and we had no idea what was going on," said Fern Saulsbery.
One neighbor, Kenneth Bourland, says he didn't know the Berry family very well.
But he says they often had large parties with a lot of alcohol. "I just knew every time I drove by there was a lot people near there and I've always seen the garage door open and they was always drinking and stuff in there," he said.
Fern Saulsbery has lived behind the home where the shooting occurred for 30 years.
She says she had chatted with the couple a few times across the fence and was bothered by the loud parties they threw, but didn't want to cause problems. "It was kinda annoying but we didn't want to make any trouble, so we just stayed out of it," said Saulsbery.
When Connie Berry filled out the police report Wednesday morning, she said there had been a history of domestic violence in her home.
Just two weeks ago she said Eric pulled a 45 caliber handgun and threatened to kill her.
But police say Eric Berry did have prior arrests, including one in 1997 for possession of a controlled substance and public intoxication.
Both Bourland and Saulsbery say every time they spoke to the couple, they were very friendly.They say there were no red flags that would indicate years of alleged domestic abuse happening in the home.
Neighbors say they were shocked when their normally quiet block was taken over by cop cars, EMS, and fire trucks.
"My husband and I were in eating lunch and we heard sirens and cop cars and we ran out to see and we were just amazed the whole block was taped off, the house was taped off, and we had no idea what was going on," said Fern Saulsbery.
One neighbor, Kenneth Bourland, says he didn't know the Berry family very well.
But he says they often had large parties with a lot of alcohol. "I just knew every time I drove by there was a lot people near there and I've always seen the garage door open and they was always drinking and stuff in there," he said.
Fern Saulsbery has lived behind the home where the shooting occurred for 30 years.
She says she had chatted with the couple a few times across the fence and was bothered by the loud parties they threw, but didn't want to cause problems. "It was kinda annoying but we didn't want to make any trouble, so we just stayed out of it," said Saulsbery.
When Connie Berry filled out the police report Wednesday morning, she said there had been a history of domestic violence in her home.
Just two weeks ago she said Eric pulled a 45 caliber handgun and threatened to kill her.
But police say Eric Berry did have prior arrests, including one in 1997 for possession of a controlled substance and public intoxication.
Both Bourland and Saulsbery say every time they spoke to the couple, they were very friendly.They say there were no red flags that would indicate years of alleged domestic abuse happening in the home.
