We now have more information on why two brothers were shot and killed in Faulkner County Tuesday afternoon. It happened on Clear Creek Ranch Road which is between Mount Vernon and Rose Bud.
Dale Padgett lives just a few feet away from where someone shot two brothers, 42-year-old Jeffrey Thomas and 40-year-old Elroy Thomas.
"I was out in front of the house working and I saw an ambulance going by. I thought maybe it was an accident," says Dale Padgett.
But that isn't what happened. Detectives say the Thomas brothers stopped by to visit the owner of the home.
"I do know they've known each other for several months," said Sgt. David Hall with the Faulkner County Sheriffs Department. "I don't know what the reason for this altercation was."
Four people were inside the house, including the homeowner. Within minutes, the men got into an argument and then someone opened fire.
Sgt. Hall will not verify that that the homeowner is a person of interest but says he is not in custody. "He's very cooperative. He's been up front and helpful with the investigation," said Sgt. Hall.
Jeffrey died at the scene. Elroy died on the way to the hospital, but he was able to call 911 after being shot.
"The homeowner was at the home when we arrived," said Sgt. Hall. "He said he had a weapon. We said, 'Lay it down,' and he obliged."
Detectives now have the homeowner's 30-30 rifle, but are tight-lipped on whether the homeowner pulled the trigger.
When Padgett found out it was a double shooting, he couldn't believe it happened in such a quiet area. "That's why we live out here in the country, to get away from all of that."
Detectives say this isn't the first time these three men have fought.
The deaths of the two brothers are Faulkner County's first homicides of the year. Jeffrey Thomas was shot once in the chest and his brother, Elroy was shot once in the abdomen.
