Police Search For Suspect In Shooting

Woman Reportedly In Critical Condition After Suffering Gunshot Wound To Head

Members of a SWAT Team assemble before entering a house in Fayetteville on Sunday where they believed a suspect in the shooting might be. A woman was found in the front yard with a gunshot wound to the head.

Members of a SWAT Team assemble before entering a house in Fayetteville on Sunday where they believed a suspect in the shooting might be. A woman was found in the front yard with a gunshot wound to the head.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

— Fayetteville police and other law enforcement agencies are looking for a man suspected of shooting a woman on Wedington Drive on Sunday morning. Jessica Stewart, 39, was shot in the head and then transported to Washington County Regional Medical Center. She was reported to be in critical condition Sunday night.

Police are looking for Eric Frankenhauser, 40, in connection with the shooting, according to a news release from the Fayetteville Police Department.

Police believe Frankenhauser left the scene after the shooting in a white, four-door Hyundai Elantra with Arkansas tag, 153RRA. There is a warrant for his arrest for attempted capital murder and first-degree battery.

Police believe Frankenhauser is armed and dangerous.

“What we’re doing now is following up on a few leads and doing our best to try and track him down, whether locally or if he has friends in other parts of the country. We’ve sent out a nationwide alert for him as well,” said Sgt. Craig Stout, a spokesman for the Fayetteville Police Department.

At 8:52 a.m., a neighbor at 2228 W. Wedington Drive, reported what she believed to be a gunshot.

Stewart was found lying in the front yard when Central EMS responded.

Frankenhauser and Stewart, reported by neighbors as a couple, were residents of 2240 W. Wedington Drive, the house next to 2228.

Frankenhauser and Stewart were often heard arguing by neighbor Kathy Duck. Duck said that the couple had a “real bad fight” Saturday, but she never thought their fighting would have gone this far.

Wedington Drive between Sang Avenue and Porter Road was blocked from traffic and police evacuated the houses along the block for hours Sunday morning while they cleared the house. The SWAT team entered the house shortly before noon and found the residence empty.

Tim Kirby of Clarendon was helping his daughters, who are students at the University of Arkansas, move into Fayetteville and drove past the scene before Wedington was blocked.

“I saw six policemen altogether, with three on each side holding shotguns and pistols pointed at the house and someone on a gurney two houses down being worked on by emergency responders.”

Neighbors hadn’t seen the shooting and were surprised that it happened in their neighborhood.

“I thought someone had just set off a firecracker. I didn’t expect any gunshots to be in our neighborhood,” said neighbor Kendall Dement.

Police indicated the photo released of Frankenhauser was dated and the suspect now has a shaved head. They are still investigating the case.