Arkansas State Police Investigate Deadly Shooting at Coal Hill City Park

A 68-year-old Clarksville man is dead, and a suspect is in custody following a shooting Tuesday afternoon at Coal Hill City Park up near the Arkansas River, according to the Arkansas State Police (ASP).

Authorities said the Coal Hill Police Department requested assistance from the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division after the shooting was reported around 3:30 PM on Tuesday, November 11. Officers from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and ASP troopers responded to the scene, where they found Kenneth E. Michaels, 68, of nearby Clarksville, AR, dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

Fortunately, The Suspect Was Arrested Without Incident

Investigators identified Colton Contant, 25, of Coal Hill, as the suspected shooter. Witnesses reported seeing him flee the park shortly after the incident. Around 4 PM, Contant was taken into custody by Coal Hill police officers, Johnson County deputies, and state troopers without further incident.

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Contant was booked into the Johnson County Detention Center on a charge of First-Degree Murder.

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Investigation Ongoing

ASP officials said the investigation remains active as detectives work to determine what led to the fatal shooting. No additional information has been released. If you have any information that could help in this or any other ongoing investigation, please contact the Arkansas State Police at 501-618-8000. If it's urgent, please call 9-1-1.