Buffalo National River Park shoots-kills armed man
Yellville, Arkansas Aug 24 2017 Authorities are still investigating the circumstances that led a park ranger to shoot and kill a Branson man in Buffalo National River Park early Sunday morning.
Park spokesman Caven Clark identified the man as Jonathan Bolger, 44.
According to a park service news release, park rangers were on foot patrol early Sunday morning in Spring Creek Campground near Yellville, Arkansas.
While on patrol, the officers encountered an adult male subject with a handgun, according to the park service.
The man refused multiple commands to drop the weapon and was fired upon, according to the park service. Bolger died from his injuries.
The Searcy County Sheriff’s Office, the Arkansas State Police, and the National Park Service continue to investigate the case.
Searcy County Chief Deputy Eric Owens said sheriff’s deputies were the first to arrive on the scene after the shooting. They rendered aid to Bolger and secured the scene and held it until Arkansas State Police arrived to take over.
Clark declined to release an incident report, saying “the investigation is still ongoing and that report is still being compiled.”
Spring Creek Campground is a small tent-only camping area near the Buffalo River.
