NEW VIENNA - Two occupants of a van registered to the House of God's Prayer in New Vienna killed two police officers Thursday afternoon in a shootout in West Memphis, Ark., then fled the scene. The suspects were later killed in a second shootout in a Walmart parking lot.
Names and addresses of the suspects were not available at press time, but Colonel Brian Prickett, chief deputy with the Clinton County Sheriff's Office, said he did not believe they were from Clinton County.
"The van was registered to the white supremacy church in New Vienna," Prickett said. "That church has not been open for a long time."
New Vienna Police Chief James Holcomb said he has not seen any activity at the storefront church, located at 143 Main St. in New Vienna.
More than 10 years ago, Aryan Nation activity had been associated with the church, which at the time was known as the Church of Jesus Christ Christian.
Meanwhile, Thursday night the street outside of the former House of God's Prayer church in New Vienna was quiet, except for the flurry of local and regional news media who descended on the village of 1,300 residents.
The nondescript building that housed the church had no sign of its former tenant, and several local residents said they did not know exactly how long the church had been closed. "It's been at least 10 or 11 years, but I can't say for sure," said one unidentified man.
According to The Associated Press, the West Memphis, Ark. police officers had pulled over the van along Interstate 40. After the officers were shot, the suspects fled the scene. The suspects were killed in a separate shootout with a county sheriff and a deputy, both of whom were wounded.
