Tragic Stabbing at Walmart

In a shocking incident, a Walmart employee was brutally attacked and killed during a late-night shift. The suspect claimed he believed he had killed the “devil” that was after him.

On Tuesday night at about 10:58 p.m., the Conway Police Department responded to reports of a stabbing at the Walmart Supercenter on U.S. 65.

Arriving within minutes, officers confronted the suspect, later identified as 37-year-old Zedrick Ross, who was still wielding a knife. Despite multiple requests to drop the weapon, Ross advanced toward the officers. One officer discharged a firearm, missing Ross, while another deployed a Taser.

The victim, 32-year-old Jordan Drinkwater, received emergency assistance from law enforcement and medical staff but tragically succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

Ross was subsequently arrested and taken to the Faulkner County Detention Center, with authorities confirming no additional injuries occurred during the incident.

Investigators determined that Ross was not an employee of Walmart, had no prior knowledge of Drinkwater, and the unprovoked attack appeared to be random. The investigation remains ongoing.

A police affidavit revealed that Ross told detectives he had been pursued by what he referred to as “the devil” and had armed himself with a knife for protection.

Ross further stated that he thought he was attacking Drinkwater, but later recognized she did not resemble the person he believed was threatening him.

Earlier that evening, he had intended to procure another weapon, confessing he had stolen a knife for this purpose. Following the shooting incident, the officer who discharged his weapon was placed on administrative leave, a typical protocol in such cases.

Ross has a criminal history that includes a 2020 conviction for theft and a 2022 conviction for obstructing government operations, resulting in a year of probation.

Friends have described Drinkwater as a “wonderful human being.” Sam Slaughter, who had known her for nearly a decade, shared her reaction to the heartbreaking news of Drinkwater’s death. “I was in disbelief. No, it can’t be Puff, right?” she recounted, expressing her shock and sorrow.

Slaughter added, “I’ve never met anyone as pure as Jordan… she changed my life for the better, and I don’t understand why this happened to her. She was an amazing person, and I will miss her deeply.”