Crime
Man Suspected in Fatal Shooting of Estranged Wife Found Dead in Apparent Suicide in Baxter County
Authorities in north Arkansas have confirmed that the man wanted in connection with a fatal domestic shooting in Bull Shoals was found deceased Monday afternoon in Baxter County.
According to law enforcement officials, 49-year-old Brooks Dean Due, of Briarcliff, was the primary suspect in the shooting death of his estranged wife, Susanne Due, which occurred earlier that morning.
The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office reported that Due’s body was discovered on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property near Shoal Creek Trail, close to Norfork Lake, approximately 70 to 75 yards off the road.
His death is believed to be the result of suicide.
Sheriff John Montgomery of Baxter County said his office was notified early Monday morning by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office that Due was a suspect in the deadly shooting and was possibly in the Baxter County area.
Deputies initiated a search at and around Due’s residence in Briarcliff.
Assistance was requested from multiple agencies, including the Arkansas State Police, which deployed a helicopter to aid in the aerial search.
A vehicle matching the description of Due’s — a 2013 black Dodge Avenger with Arkansas Disabled license plate 305607 — was located on Shoal Creek Trail shortly before 2:30 p.m.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections’ canine tracking team from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock was brought in to support ground efforts.
The team successfully located Due’s body just under an hour later. The Baxter County Coroner’s Office took possession of the remains.
Earlier in the day, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Arkansas State Police and the Bull Shoals Police Department, began investigating the fatal shooting of Susanne Due at a residence in Bull Shoals.
Sheriff Gregg Alexander confirmed that arrest warrants had been issued for Brooks Due on charges of First-Degree Murder and Violation of a Protection Order.
Authorities had warned the public that Due was considered armed and dangerous, advising anyone who saw him or his vehicle to contact law enforcement immediately and not to approach him.
At the time of the alert, he was described as 6’1″, 265 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, possibly wearing a light-colored shirt and hat, and either clean-shaven or with a trimmed beard.
The investigation remains active and is being coordinated between the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police, Bull Shoals Police Department, and the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting, and no additional suspects are being sought at this time.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.