2010 West Memphis police shootings

Shooting attacks in Arkansas, U.S. December 2025 April 2021 2010 West Memphis police shootings West Memphis, Arkansas, United States 35.16244595997362 -90.22077172530007 inline,title West Memphis Police Department officers 2010 05 20 11:36 a.m. CDT Shootout and double murder 4 (including both perpetrators) 2 Jerry Kane Jr. Joseph Kane Kalashnikov-type semi-automatic rifle Taurus Judge .45 Colt/.410 Handgun Two policemen in West Memphis, Arkansas were shot and killed during a traffic stop on May 20, 2010. The two suspects, 45-year-old Jerry R. Kane Jr. (b. 1964), and his 16-year-old son Joseph T. Kane (b. 1993), were killed hours later in a Walmart parking lot after a shootout ensued when police confronted them.http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100522/ap_on_re_us/us_arkansas_officers_shot Ohio man, son killed after Ark. cops fatally shot May 22, 2010 Associated Press July 17, 2026 Bartels, Chuck Kissel, Kelly P. https://web.archive.org/web/20100524114626/http://news.yahoo.com:80/s/ap/20100521/ap_on_re_us/us_arkansas_officers_shot May 24, 2010 dead Yahoo! News The two were later identified as members of the sovereign citizen movement.https://abcnews.go.com/WN/deadly-arkansas-shooting-sovereign-citizens-jerry-kane-joseph/story?id=11065285 Deadly Arkansas Shooting By 'Sovereigns' Jerry and Joe Kane Who Shun U.S. Law ABC World News ABC News July 1, 2010 July 17, 2026 Harris, Dan The FBI lists sovereign citizens as a domestic terror threat, saying they've been responsible for such crimes as murder, threatening judges, using fake currency and engaging in scams to convince people that they don't have to pay taxes or mortgages. Both Jerry Kane and his son Joseph were involved in such schemes, peddling their message in seminars across the country. Videos of Kane posted on YouTube show him dressed in a white suit jacket with a closely-cropped, military-style haircut, instructing a group of people in ways to fight off banks and lawyers. "I look at the legal term not the slang," Kane says on one video, urging his audience to look at the roots of legal language to reveal hidden meaning. https://web.archive.org/web/20140102100320/https://abcnews.go.com/WN/deadly-arkansas-shooting-sovereign-citizens-jerry-kane-joseph/story?id=11065285&singlePage=true January 2, 2014 dead Details Around 11:36 a.m. CDT, a white Plymouth Voyager minivan traveling east on Interstate 40 toward Airport Road was pulled over by West Memphis police officer Bill Evans.http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/20/arkansas.2.police.killed/index.html 2 police officers fatally shot in West Memphis, Arkansas CNN May 20, 2010 August 16, 2023 Watkins, Tom The incident began around 11:36 a.m. (12:36 p.m. ET), when West Memphis patrolman Bill Evans made a traffic stop on a white minivan traveling eastbound on I-40 at Airport Road, said Bill Sadler, public information officer for the Arkansas State Police. After the vehicle exited the Interstate onto an off-ramp near College Avenue, Sgt. Brandon Paudert arrived on the scene as backup, Sadler said. "It is our belief that Officer Evans was shoved to the ground by one of the suspects in the minivan and gunfire was directed at both officers," Sadler said. The suspects then fled, driving east in the minivan, leaving one man dead and the other fatally wounded. https://web.archive.org/web/20100523025529/http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/20/arkansas.2.police.killed/index.html May 23, 2010 dead According to a spokesperson for the Arkansas State Police, Officer Evans was "running drug interdiction"; the vehicle, driven by Jerry Kane, had unusual Ohio license plates. Sergeant Brandon Paudert provided backup for Evans. As a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, Jerry Kane did not have a driver's license and his van was not properly registered with the state. He was also carrying a brick of marijuana and there were two arrest warrants for him, one in Ohio and one in New Mexico. Two dogs were also in the car with the Kanes.McMillin Zack Perrusquia Marc Police killers identified as activists on mission to spread anti-government message http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/may/21/relatives-id-west-memphis-suspects The Commercial Appeal Memphis May 21, 2010 July 18, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20100524080418/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/may/21/relatives-id-west-memphis-suspects May 24, 2010 dead Upon Paudert's arrival at the scene, Jerry became argumentative, showing the officers a document declaring sovereignty rather than a driver's license. Then, Jerry began fighting with the officers, and Joe fired an AK-47.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-look-at-the-sovereign-citizen-movement/ A look at the "sovereign citizen" movement 60 Minutes CBS News May 15, 2011 July 17, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20110714102400/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/15/60minutes/main20062666.shtml July 14, 2011 dead Both officers were fatally wounded; Paudert, 39, died at the scene, and Evans, 38, died at the hospital. The suspects returned to their van and sped away.Bartels Chuck 2 Ark. police killed during traffic stop on I-40 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100520/ap_on_re_us/us_arkansas_officers_shot Associated Press May 20, 2010 July 17, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20100526192434/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100520/ap_on_re_us/us_arkansas_officers_shot May 26, 2010 dead Vincent Brown, a FedEx driver from Houston, witnessed the shooting and called 911; neither officer could make an "officer down" call due to their fatal injuries.Noll Scott West Memphis Cop Killer Was Wanted Man http://www.wreg.com/wreg-accused-cop-killer-was-wanted-man-story,0,2728847.story WREG-TV July 17, 2026 May 25, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20110927215200/http://www.wreg.com/wreg-accused-cop-killer-was-wanted-man-story,0,2728847.story September 27, 2011 dead Approximately 2 hours after the incident, Crittenden County Sheriff Dick Busby and Chief Enforcement Officer W. A. Wren stopped a minivan believed to be the suspects' at a Walmart Supercenter.Sovereign Citizens and Law Enforcement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_y-gLm9Hrw https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/d_y-gLm9Hrw 2021-12-15 live Southern Poverty Law Center 1 November 2010 Busby and Wren were wounded in gunfire exchanged with the suspects and were later hospitalized in critical condition. Wildlife Officer Michael K. Neal, responding to the brief standoff, rammed the suspect's vehicle, preventing their escape and saving the lives of Busby and Wren. Neal exchanged fire with the Kanes through his windshield using his patrol rifle, killing Jerry Kane and wounding Joe Kane before exiting his vehicle and continuing the gun battle. Dozens of officers then surrounded the van, and after several more minutes of gunfire, Joe Kane was shot to death by police.https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2010/sovereign-citizen-kane 'Sovereign' Citizen Kane August 1, 2010 August 16, 2023 MacNab, J.J. en According to a preliminary investigation report, Brandon Paudert was struck 11 times and died at the scene; Evans was hit by 14 rounds and died at the hospital. ~. Crittenden County Sheriff Dick Busby was shot once in the shoulder, and W.A. Wren, West Memphis' chief of enforcement, was hit multiple times in the abdomen. Both men survived. Southern Poverty Law Center For his actions, Neal was awarded Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the National Rifle Association of America (NRA).2010 NRA Officer Of The Year Award Winner Frank E. Lockwood https://awards.nra.org/awards/nra-officer-of-the-year-award/wildlife-officer-michael-k-neal/ NRA February 8, 2022 en https://web.archive.org/web/20170701083938/https://awards.nra.org/awards/nra-officer-of-the-year-award/wildlife-officer-michael-k-neal/ July 1, 2017 live Michael K. Neal's truck is on permanent display at the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C.Arkansas sheriff featured in national museum; hero of 2010 clash attends D.C. opening Frank E. Lockwood https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2018/oct/12/state-sheriff-features-national-museum/ Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette October 12, 2018 February 8, 2022 en https://web.archive.org/web/20181013122042/https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2018/oct/12/state-sheriff-features-national-museum/ October 13, 2018 live It was later revealed that Brandon Paudert was shot 14 times, Bill Evans 8 times, Jerry Kane 18 times, and Joe Kane 8 times.Heard Kenneth August 27, 2010 Slain West Memphis officers' autopsies released Arkansas Democrat-Gazette https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/aug/27/slain-west-memphis-officers-autopsies-rel-20100827/ July 17, 2026 subscription https://web.archive.org/web/20250126042948/https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/aug/27/slain-west-memphis-officers-autopsies-rel-20100827/ January 26, 2025 live Perpetrators Jerry Kane and Joseph Kane were identified by Arkansas State Police the day after the shootings. A lifelong resident of Ohio,July 17, 2026 https://archive.knoxnews.com/news/state/stepmom-of-west-memphis-suspects-says-fbi-told-her-young-kane-pulled-trigger-ep-408401043-358718851.html/ Aaronson, Trevor 'Stepmom' of West Memphis suspects says FBI told her young Kane pulled trigger May 23, 2010 Knoxville News-Sentinel A lifelong Ohioan, Kane was a long-haul truck driver married to a nurse named Hope. Their first child was a son, Joe. Two years later, they had a daughter, Candy. But six weeks after Candy's birth, Kane and his wife found her lifeless in the crib. They brought her to the hospital. The initial diagnosis: sudden infant death syndrome. But the hospital, Wray recalled from stories her husband had told her, wanted to be sure. They insisted on an autopsy. Kane objected, only to discover he had little choice in the matter. "He didn't want her all cut up and to have her brain weighed," Wray said. "She was gone." That episode 14 years ago, Wray explained, inspired a distrust of government in Kane. "He just couldn't understand that," Wray said. "How could a business have rights where the flesh and blood does not?" As a result, Kane began to withdraw from the trappings of government. https://web.archive.org/web/20100608093202/http://www.knoxnews.com:80/news/2010/may/23/stepmom-west-memphis-suspects-says-fbi-told-her-yo June 8, 2010 dead Jerry Kane ran a debt elimination business and traveled the country giving paid seminars on methods of "forestalling foreclosures", lecturing that money and home loans are fictitious, and that people can simply sign a quitclaim deed and live in their houses mortgage-free.https://www.actionnews5.com/story/12521732/suspects-identified-in-west-memphis-shootings/ Suspects identified in West Memphis shootings WMC-TV May 22, 2010 July 18, 2026 Wise, Andy Kane and his son toured the country, holding seminars on how there really isn't "money" or "home loans," just debt that is all the federal government's fault. They would teach that all debt contracts are the responsibility of the U.S. government, not the debt-holders because, as they taught, American currency really doesn't exist. Kane also taught that mortgage lending is a scam, and all you have to do to get a house is sign a deed or 'quit claim' that says a home is yours. In a YouTube video, waving a deed, Kane says you don't have to get a loan. "No, we don't have to do it, because here we're doing it," he said. https://web.archive.org/web/20100527063259/http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12521732 May 27, 2010 live His concepts were based on the fraudulent schemes advocated by the redemption movement. According to his girlfriend, Kane's resentment of the government began in the late 1990s, when one of his daughters died at the age of six weeks of sudden infant death syndrome and an autopsy was performed against his wishes. Kane grew distrustful of authorities, gave up his driver's license and employment as a trucker, and became increasingly antagonistic toward Ohio law enforcement. Based on a 2004 conversation with Jerry Kane, Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly had expressed concern that Kane would pose a dangerous threat to law enforcement officers. According to Kelly, Kane had complained about being "enslaved" by a judge who had sentenced him to serve six days of community service for driving with an expired license plate and no seat belt. In 2006, Kane was indicted for forgery and theft of a car by deception in Montgomery County, Ohio, and there was an outstanding warrant at the time of his death.'Lies', baby's death pushed Kane May 22, 2010 Springfield News-Sun http://www.springfieldnewssun.com:80/news/crime/lies-babys-death-pushed-kane-722614.html July 17, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20100526154034/http://www.springfieldnewssun.com:80/news/crime/lies-babys-death-pushed-kane-722614.html May 26, 2010 dead Kane had said that driver's licences were a "debt contract", and a month before the shooting, he was arrested in New Mexico for driving without a license. Kane also made his views known on the Internet. Around 2006, he started posting about "redemption" theories on a sovereign citizen forum.Man Who Killed Arkansas Police Was Failed Pitchman For Bizarre Anti-Debt Scheme Justin Elliott May 24, 2010 Talking Points Memo https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/man-who-killed-arkansas-police-was-failed-pitchman-for-bizarre-anti-debt-scheme-video 2022-02-07 In 2007, his wife died of pneumonia.Deadly shootout with cops brings fame extremists never had in life Rodney Thrash May 28, 2010 St. Petersburg Times http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article1098460.ece July 17, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20100601054132/http://www.tampabay.com:80/news/publicsafety/crime/article1098460.ece June 1, 2010 dead On an internet radio show, Kane said he was picked up at a "Nazi checkpoint", spent 47 hours in custody, and planned to sue for $100 per hour of custody. In fact, he was released on $1,500 bond and did not appear for his court date three days before the shooting. Kane also had a YouTube channel expressing anti-government views, for instance joking about assaulting Internal Revenue Service agents. Around 2008, at the height of the mortgage crisis, Kane shifted from being an Internet poster to starting his own debt-elimination seminars business. Joseph Kane traveled the country with his father, whom he assisted on his seminars. He was homeschooled and, by age 9, could recite the Bill of Rights and carried a toy gun everywhere he went. According to Sheriff Kelly, "the child had been taught not to trust law enforcement."https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/us/24arkansas.html Arkansas Suspects Had Rage Toward Government Dewan Shaila Hubbell John The New York Times May 24, 2010 July 17, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20100603145352/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/us/24arkansas.html?pagewanted=all June 3, 2010 live Jerry Kane had recently begun a relationship with a woman from Florida whom he had met at one of his seminars and who also adhered to sovereign citizen ideology: shortly before the shooting, she had been involved in a protracted legal battle with her county of residence because she refused to pay a $20 dog-licensing fee. Jerry Kane was unsuccessful as a motivational speaker; his seminars were sparsely attended and he had not gained much notoriety in the sovereign citizen environment. He had decided to cut his tour off early and, when the shooting took place, was en route to Florida where his last seminar was scheduled. After that, he planned to settle in Florida and start a new life with his girlfriend. Aftermath August 2023 According to the autopsy, officers and eyewitnesses testimony, Evans was shot 8 times in the chest, back, and arms. Paudert was shot 14 times in the head, arms, legs, both hands and shoulders. Neal shot both Kanes multiple times: Joseph Kane was shot 8 times in the chest, head, back, and arms; and Jerry Kane Jr. was shot 18 times in the back, arms, and legs.August 2023 Dick Busby was hit once in the left shoulder. W. A. Wren was hit multiple times in the abdomen. The 2025 film Sovereign is based on events surrounding the shootings.Yu Brandon 'Sovereign' Review: The Fringe and the Forgotten https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/movies/sovereign-review.html July 11, 2025 The New York Times July 10, 2025 limited See also Arkansas List of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in the United States References Category:2010 in Arkansas Category:2010 mass shootings in the United States Category:2010 murders in the United States Category:American police officers killed in the line of duty Category:Attacks in the United States in 2010 Category:Crimes in Arkansas Category:Murderer duos Category:Deaths by firearm in Arkansas Category:Filmed killings in the United States Category:Incidents involving the sovereign citizen movement Category:Law enforcement in Arkansas Category:Mass shootings in Arkansas Category:May 2010 crimes in the United States Category:Murder committed by minors Category:Murder in Arkansas Category:People shot dead by law enforcement officers in Arkansas Category:West Memphis, Arkansas Category:Shootouts in the United States Category:Mass shootings involving revolvers