On the afternoon of Wednesday, December 17, 2025, deputies from the Pope County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence south of Atkins, Arkansas. Officers found 64-year-old Randy Joe Ruddell with fatal injuries; he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A manhunt shortly after the discovery led investigators to 36-year-old Kyle Brandon Ruddell, who was located, taken into custody and booked at the Pope County Detention Center. He was charged with First Degree Murder and Attempted Murder, suggesting another person may have been endangered during the incident. At a hearing the following Friday, Pope County District Judge Deidre Luker found probable cause and bound the case over to Circuit Court, setting cash bond at $250,000.

The Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation. Does anyone have information about Randy Joe Ruddell, his movements that day, or the incident south of Atkins?