Jordanne "Puff" Drinkwater, 32, was fatally stabbed during a late-night shift at a Walmart Supercenter on U.S. 65. Officers arrived within minutes and took 37-year-old Zeddrick Ross into custody after he refused commands; one officer fired a shot that missed and another used a Taser. Ross told investigators he believed he was confronting a "demon" and had armed himself with a stolen knife. The investigation is ongoing and an officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave.
Walmart Employee Fatally Stabbed During Night Shift; Suspect Said He Thought She Was a 'Demon', Police Say
Walmart employee fatally stabbed in random attack by man who allegedly believed victim was a 'demon': police
A Walmart employee was fatally stabbed during a late-night shift in what police say appears to be a random attack. The Conway Police Department responded to the Walmart Supercenter on U.S. 65 at about 10:58 p.m. Tuesday after reports of a stabbing.
Officers Confront Suspect
Officers arrived within roughly a minute and located the suspect, later identified as 37-year-old Zeddrick Ross, still armed with a knife. Police say officers issued multiple commands for Ross to drop the weapon; he refused and advanced toward an officer. One officer fired a single shot that missed the suspect, and another officer deployed a Taser. Ross was taken into custody and booked into the Faulkner County Detention Center. Police said no one else was injured.
Victim and Investigation
The victim, identified by police as 32-year-old Jordanne Drinkwater, was given emergency aid by officers and medical personnel but was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say Ross was not employed by Walmart, did not know Drinkwater, and had no known interaction with her prior to the attack. The department describes the incident as an apparently random act of violence; the investigation is ongoing.
Suspect's Statement and Background
According to a police affidavit reviewed by news outlets, Ross told detectives he had been pursued by what he described as a "demon" and carried a knife for protection. He said he thought he was confronting that figure when he attacked Drinkwater, later telling investigators that he realized she did not resemble the person he believed had been following him. Ross also told officers he had stolen the knife earlier and had gone to the store intending to obtain another weapon.
Legal And Departmental Response
An officer who discharged a firearm during the encounter has been placed on administrative leave, a routine step after an officer-involved shooting. Court records reviewed by news outlets show Ross has prior convictions: a 2020 misdemeanor theft conviction and a 2022 conviction for obstructing governmental operations; he was sentenced to one year of probation in 2022.
Remembrance
Friends remembered Drinkwater, who went by the nickname "Puff," as an "amazing human being." Sam Slaughter, who had known Drinkwater for nearly 10 years, told local media she was stunned by the news and described Drinkwater as a positive influence who helped her maintain sobriety and adopt a more compassionate outlook.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the attack and the suspect's motivations.
Help us improve.
