The front yard Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at 3609 Briar Creek Avenue in Bentonville. Bentonville Police shot and killed a man late Friday night who was suspected of robbing the Kum & Go convenience store a short distance down Greenhouse Road (to the right of the frame). - Photo by Ben Goff

BENTONVILLE -- The lawyer representing the Bentonville police officer who killed 17-year-old Dominick Matt said he expects the public will understand the officer's actions when a report on the shooting is released.

Bentonville attorney Shane Wilkinson declined to give his client's name, but did say that he's been a police officer for a couple of years.

Bentonville police have not released the officer's name.

The officer shot Matt near Greenhouse Road and Southwest Briar Creek Avenue at 11:23 p.m. Friday after Matt pulled a gun, according to a press release from the Arkansas State Police.

The State Police is investigating the shooting.

"I expect it to be wrapped up very quickly, and everyone will see that the officer's actions were justified," Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson declined to provide any more details of the shooting because he said he did not want to interfere with the investigation.

Police approached Matt because he was a suspect in the robbery about 11 p.m. Friday of the nearby Kum and Go, according to the State Police's press release.

Matt's body was sent to the Arkansas Crime Lab.

Bentonville police received a call at 11:07 p.m. Friday that a robbery was in progress at the convenience store at 3610 S.W. Regional Airport Road, according to a press release from the Bentonville Police Department. The officer, based on the physical description provided by the clerk, found Matt at Green House Road and Briar Creek Avenue.

Within seconds of the officer's contact with Matt, the officer reported shots had been fired and the suspect was "down," according to the press release.

The State Police's Criminal Investigation Division will present a case file to the Benton County prosecuting attorney. The prosecutor will determine whether the officer's use of deadly force was lawful.

NW News on 12/10/2019