Little Rock man killed in pursuit following string of armed robberies in Conway
BEE BRANCH, Ark. — A 23-year-old Little Rock man is dead following a string of armed gas station robberies in Conway and Damascus that ended in a fatal high-speed crash on Highway 65, police confirmed.
The man, identified as Joey Simmons, allegedly began his crime spree early Wednesday morning at the Phillips 66 gas station on Skyline Drive in Conway. According to Conway police, Simmons entered the store wearing a black T-shirt, shorts, a ski mask and wielding a rifle. He reportedly told the clerk he was 'on a mission from God' before making off with approximately $200 in cash.
Armed robbery suspect dies after police pursuit, crash in Van Buren County
While officers were investigating that robbery, a second 911 call came in—this time from Snappy's gas station in Damascus, just down the road. Again, police say Simmons entered with a rifle and demanded money at gunpoint before fleeing the scene.
A 'Be On The Lookout' alert was issued by authorities, and not long after, Arkansas State Police spotted a black Toyota Camry matching the suspect's vehicle description on Highway 65. When spotted Simmons sparked a high-speed pursuit that ended in Bee Branch.
Local resident Gary Elliott described the moment the chase came to a sudden, violent end in a culvert beside his home.
'It was about ten minutes to eight,' Elliott recalled. 'I was getting dressed, putting my shoes on, and I heard the siren. Then all of a sudden, the siren cut off real quick. I heard a big bang out in front of the house.'
Stepping outside, Elliott discovered his mailbox had been destroyed in the crash and tire marks led to the culvert beside his home off the highway.
'I didn't see anything at first,' he said. 'So I got down from the porch and walked towards the sidewalk and I saw my mailbox was gone. The pole was leaning into the weeds. The cops were down there, and I didn't learn until the next day what happened.'
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Simmons' vehicle had veered off the road and crashed, killing him at the scene. Police recovered $192 in cash from inside the car. Conway police say the recovered money was returned to the Phillips 66.
'Luckily he went straight and didn't turn a little more and run into my car or the house,' Elliott added. 'I don't understand how he got to this side of the street if he was headed toward Clinton. It's just strange.'
No officers or civilians were injured in the incident.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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