Officers cleared in January shooting death of Hot Springs man

LITTLE ROCK — The 6th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney determined an Arkansas State Police (ASP) Trooper and three Benton Police officers were justified in the use of deadly force in the shooting death of Aaron Watson, 35, of Hot Springs that occurred on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.
Watson died after leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit from Benton to Little Rock.
At approximately 2:04 p.m., the Saline County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) notified ASP that they were pursuing a white 1996 BMW driven by Watson, traveling on the Interstate 30 service road near the 128-mile marker in Benton.

Troopers ended the pursuit using a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) maneuver on the Interstate 30 service road near the University Avenue exit. Watson fired at law enforcement officers, who returned fire, striking him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Watson was wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service and was driving a vehicle with fictitious plates.
ASP Troopers and Benton Police officers involved in the incident were not injured.