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William Delbert Whitfield

Age : 42

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 07/24/2022

Location : 2000 block of Kay Road

City : Benton

County : Saline

State : Arkansas

Agency : Benton PD

Officer(s) :Brian Franklin

Cause of Death : Unknown

Event : Killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 07/24/2022, a Benton Police Department officer attempted to stop William Delbert Whitfield near the intersection of Cox Street and Edison Avenue. Whitfield continued driving away while Officer Brian Franklin pursued him through Benton. The pursuit traveled along Highway 35, Bennett Road, and ended in the 2000 block of Kay Road. After Whitfield's vehicle came to a stop, an encounter occurred during which Officer Brian Franklin fired his weapon. Initial emergency radio traffic indicated Whitfield had been shot in the chest, but Benton police never confirmed where he was struck or whether he had also suffered injuries in the crash.
Whitfield was pronounced dead shortly after the encounter. Benton Police repeatedly stated only that he "succumbed to injuries sustained in the encounter" without identifying the medical cause of death. Officer Brian Franklin was not injured and was placed on paid administrative leave while the department conducted an internal investigation and the case was reviewed by the Saline County Prosecuting Attorney. Benton Police did not publicly release additional facts describing what occurred after the pursuit ended, including what prompted Officer Franklin to fire, whether Whitfield was armed, or the precise sequence of events immediately before the shooting. No publicly available investigative findings, autopsy report, or prosecutorial determination clarifying the cause of Whitfield's death could be located.
Research note: Despite extensive follow-up searching, there is no publicly available evidence resolving whether William Whitfield died from injuries sustained in the vehicle crash, from the gunshot wound, or from a combination of injuries. Because authorities have never publicly clarified the medical cause of death, "Cause of Death : Unknown" remains the most accurate classification based on available records.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.mysaline.com/bnpd-officer-weapon-discharge-072422/