Man murdered in Searcy medical clinic

SEARCY, AR - A 24-year old son and father gunned down where he worked in Searcy. Police say they have few leads to go on, but the mother of Zach Mitchell tells FOX16 News her son had no known enemies.

Photos of Zach Mitchell with his 3-year old son Keegan are the images his family says they treasure. His mother Patricia Staggs says he was a great son and wonderful father.

"Zach was a very loving person that would give the shirt off his back to anybody," Staggs says.

But someone targeted him Sunday evening at a medical clinic in 3200 block of Langley where he did janitorial work.

"He usually kept the doors locked so I don't know if it was somebody that he knew and he let them in, I don't know," Staggs says.

A police report says Mitchell, 24, was shot once in the chest. Searcy police spokesperson Terri Lee says his friends discovered him lying in the office, dead when paramedics arrived.

"Our last homicide was in 2008 so we don't even see anything like this very often," Lee says.

Mitchell was sturdy framed, over 6’5”, played football and graduated from Searcy High School in 2006. His family says his wallet was taken and his shirt was ripped, likely signs he fought for his life before being shot.

“There's just no rhyme or reason as to why this had to happen,” Staggs says. "I just hope and pray to God they catch whoever did this to my baby."

Staggs says her job now is to teach her three year old grandson about his father he'll likely only remember in pictures.

Staggs has worked in the kidney dialysis office where her son was shot for sixteen years. She said Monday she doesn't know how or if she'll ever be able to go back.

The family of Zach Mitchell is offering a $5000 reward for information leading to an arrest in his murder.

Staggs says her son originally planned to take his 3-year old son Keegan with him last night to clean the office. But she says the boy fell asleep, so he took him home and he went into the office alone.

According to his family, Mitchell worked at Bryce Corporation in Searcy and spent his off time with his son enjoying fishing, hunting & Razorbacks sports.