Video: Slain Police Officer Rescued Partner Despite Having Been Shot In The Neck
It's not clear what drove Jerry Lard, 37, to shoot at Schmidt, who was patrolling the Delta community on Tuesday night when he pulled Keith Elumbaugh, 33, of Trumann. over. Sgt. Corey Overstreet arrived a few minutes later. He was also shot at by Lard.
Elumbaugh stated that, during the traffic stop, he was handcuffed and told he was being held for failing to appear on a misdemeanor warrant. The accusation: he violated the town's leash law with his ex-girlfriend's dog, a Jack Russell terrier and Chihuahua mix named Rascal.
Elumbaugh said Schmidt was smiling and joking with the people in the car — after mispronouncing Elumbaugh's name.
"I'm under arrest and I'm sitting there laughing with the guy," Elumbaugh said.
Schmidt approached the rear passenger door where Lard was sitting, the witnesses stated, when Lard pulled out a gun and started firing.
"When he shot him in the neck, the blood started gushing out," Swanner said.
Yet, even with a wound to his neck, Schmidt pushed Overstreet toward safety behind his police car, Swanner and Elumbaugh said. Then, Schmidt turned back toward Lard and began to return fire.
While he was shooting, Elumbaugh said, Lard was cursing at Schmidt, saying "Die, (expletive)!"
"Please don't shoot me. Please don't shoot me," Schmidt cried out, Elumbaugh said.
Swanner, who was in the front seat of the car, said that despite being shot Schmidt was able to keep firing as he fell to the ground."Every time I close my eyes, I see it," Swanner said.
"Jonathan Schmidt is a hero," said Swanner, 30, who went to school with the fallen officer. "He was down and wounded and still picked the other cop up to help."
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