2 suspects wanted in connection with Arkansas officer’s killing captured by U.S. Marshals; officer identified

ARKANSAS (WMC) - Two men wanted in connection with the deadly shooting of an Arkansas police officer are in custody.

U.S. Marshals arrested 29-year-old Latarius Howard and 24-year-old Bruce Hillie Friday morning in Mississippi.

Arkansas State Police is leading the investigation.

ASP identified the Helena-West Helena police officer Friday as 41-year-old Travis Wallace.

According to ASP, Wallace and other officers were searching for Howard in connection with a separate shooting a week earlier. Wallace spotted Howard around 6 p.m. Thursday in an SUV leaving a motel parking let in Helena-West Helena.

ASP says Wallace blocked the SUV with his own patrol car and Howard got out shooting as he approached the officer. Wallace returned fire but Howard got back in the vehicle and took off with another driver behind the wheel.

Wallace went to the hospital where he died a little after 7 p.m. Thursday.

ASP says Howard surrendered to U.S. Marshals in Shaw, Mississippi shortly after 6 a.m. Friday. Hillie, the suspected getaway driver, was arrested in Indianola.

Both are in the Sunflower County Jail awaiting extradition to Arkansas.

Howard is facing a capital murder charge and Hillie a charge of hindering apprehension.

Check back for updates on this investigation.

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