HELELNA-WEST HELENA, Ark. (localmemphis.com) – A murder investigation turned into a deadly 6-hour standoff in Helena-West Helena Tuesday night, and now more information is being released about the suspects and victims involved.
All three people killed are being identified by police, including the suspect, Raymond Williams, who was shot dead by Arkansas State troopers.
Williams’ family members were stunned when police told them he killed two people, they were identified as Deanna Banks and friend Christine Fulmer.
A 14-year-old lives just a couple of houses down from where the bullets flew.
“When she got out the car, I saw him shooting at her and she started screaming,” said Lawrenta Pollard. “Then he went back in the house got a bigger gun then shot her again.”
Police Chief Patrick Smith says Williams’ mother told police during the barricade that he might be going through a mental crisis.
“During the barricade situation, Mr. Williams’ mother approached us and basically stated that he was a mental consumer,” said Smith. “He may be going through a crisis situation. His mother actually stated that she didn’t really know what he had or if he had taken any type of medication.”
“His living conditions were kind of poor. It was unkempt,” said Chief Smith. “We found that information out once they did a thorough search of the house, Arkansas State Police. There he was suffering some crisis. The utilities were turned off, there was no running water inside the house.”
Witnesses say Williams was enraged Banks had brought Fulmer to his home. Police confirmed Fulmer let her daughter have relations with older men.
One neighbor told Local 24 News she worked with Deanna Banks for five years.
“She was funny, but she was like the quiet type,” said the Banks’ neighbor. “She’d speak to but keep on going. She would laugh.”
Arkansas State Police are investigating both this double homicide and also the officer-involved shooting. All three bodies have been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock. Police expect to release a toxicology report in the coming weeks.