The Sebastian County Sheriff's Office has released the name of a deputy who shot and killed a man in Fort Smith.
Authorities said Monday that deputy Joshua Heidelberg shot 23-year-old Justin Higgins on Saturday after Higgins had earlier exchanged gunfire with Fort Smith police and as Higgins attempted to carjack the deputy's vehicle.
Sheriff's Lt. Philip Pevehouse said in a news release that Higgins was holding a gun to the head of a family friend of Heidelberg and was about to drive away with the deputy's children also in the vehicle. Pevehouse says Heidelberg opened fire when Higgins pointed a gun at the deputy.
Heidelberg is on paid leave pending an internal review of the shooting.
Police have said Higgins was from the Muskogee and Wagoner county areas in Oklahoma.
