News Release

Man Dies from Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound at Buffalo National River

Date: May 7, 2021
Contact: Cassie Branstetter, 870-365-2744

St. Joe, AR- On Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 12:04 p.m., two National Park Service (NPS) rangers contacted a female driver and her male passenger, identified as Damon Scott Casey, 40, for routine traffic violations near Tyler Bend in the Middle District of Buffalo National River. During the contact, Casey, of North Little Rock, Ark., produced two forms of identification. Rangers determined Casey to have possible, non-extraditable warrants from another jurisdiction, along with a lengthy criminal history involving firearms, drugs, assault, and domestic violence.

Authorities later identified these two individuals as persons of interest in a shooting incident in Pulaski County, Ark.

When rangers asked Casey and his female companion to step out of the vehicle, Casey refused and acted in a manner causing officers to believe the female might be in danger. Casey produced a handgun, shot himself in the head and died on scene. Casey’s female companion and the responding rangers were unharmed.

Authorities have sent Casey's remains to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy.

Special agents of the Arkansas State Police, assisted by special agents of the NPS Investigative Services Branch, the Searcy County Sheriff's Department, the Marshall Arkansas Police Department and the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office are conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident. No further details are available at this time.