Police standoff ends with gunfire and suspect death

PARAGOULD, AR - A bank robbery suspect is killed by police. The suspect was involved in an overnight armed stand-off with local and state law enforcement officers. He was shot and killed this morning after he fired on two Arkansas State Troopers assigned to the department’s Special Weapons and Tactical team.

Billy Charles Hyde, 29, of Paragould fled from an Arkansas State Trooper yesterday (Friday, April 13th) after being spotted in a suspected get-away vehicle wanted in connection with a Paragould bank robbery earlier.

Hyde, armed with a handgun, abandoned the vehicle and fled into a home approximately two miles northeast of Paragould at 819 Greene County Road 818. Inside the home was a woman later identified as Hyde’s wife. Law enforcement officers cordoned-off the area around the house and initiated attempts to communicate with the suspect and his wife.

Throughout the night Hyde refused to surrender but at 11:42 PM Hyde’s wife exited the home. She was questioned by law enforcement officers and subsequently released.

At approximately 1:25 AM this morning (Saturday, April 14th) Hyde escaped by crawling through a hole in the floor of the home and fleeing east about one-quarter mile into a heavily wooded area.

Law enforcement officers and tracking dogs moved into the area and about 4 AM an Arkansas State Police helicopter detected a heat signature from the ground which appeared to be a man lying down. The aircraft spotter guided officers to the area at which time Hyde rose and fired on two State Police SWAT Troopers who returned fire killing Hyde.