Rowell Man Dies After Shooting Self Outside Courthouse

RISON - A man charged with negligent homicide who was awaiting a court hearing Tuesday morning at the Cleveland County Courthouse in Rison died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound suffered from inside his vehicle in the parking lot, the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department reported. Stephen Clark, 61, of Rowell, died after being transported by ambulance to Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff. Chief Deputy Gary Young of the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department said he was discovered by a friend who had accompanied him to the hearing According to Young, Clark was to appear before Circuit Judge David Talley on Tuesday concerning a charge of negligent homicide stemming from a single-vehicle accident that occurred on the morning of Jan. 2, 2022. That accident claimed the life of Clark's wife, Mary Elizabeth Clark, who was 59 at the time. Arkansas State Trooper Joe Anderson wrote in his report that the two were traveling northbound along Hwy. 63 south of Rowell when the Jeep Wrangler they were traveling in left the roadway along the shoulder before striking a fence and two trees. Road conditions were reported as "damp" at the time of the accident, which took place at about 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. The accident occurred about the same time that morning as a band of sleet and snow was making its way across Cleveland County. A follow-up investigation led to a special agent of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division arresting Stephen Clark on June 16, 2022. He was charged with negligent homicide in connection with the fatal accident. According to a State Police press release, a State Police investigation of the crash determined that Clark was traveling too fast for conditions and was believed to be intoxicated. The crash investigation was submitted to a prosecuting attorney on Feb. 1, 2022, and the prosecuting attorney then requested additional work be completed by the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division. Clark…