Leaders of the Little Rock Freedom Fund on Monday publicly urged the owner of a South University Avenue Valero and the Little Rock Police Department to take responsibility following a contentious August 9 arrest that was recorded on police body camera footage.
What happened at the Valero
According to a police report and the footage shown at the press conference, a cashier at the Valero called 911 after an argument with 23-year-old Gregory Williams about a food transaction. Video from Little Rock police body cameras shows Officer Thomas Shook entering the store with his weapon drawn and pointing it at Williams, then ordering Williams to get on the ground.
As Williams complied, the footage shows an officer pressing a firearm to Williams’ head while Williams repeatedly told officers he did not have a weapon. Officers conducted a search and found no gun on Williams or in his backpack.
Community response and demands
The Little Rock Freedom Fund, an activist nonprofit, convened the press conference to demand an apology from the gas station owner and to press for changes in how the business and the department handle similar calls. Dawn Jeffrey, the group’s founder, outlined specific expectations for the Valero location and for community accountability.
- Public apology from the Valero owner
- Staff training on de-escalation and customer conflict resolution
- Community hiring and engagement initiatives at the store
- Transparency from LRPD about the officer’s actions and administrative review
"We have to continue to build our trust with the community and on that will work as a community and customer appreciation day," said Nick Chowdhury, who spoke for the store owner and pledged to make staffing and outreach changes.
Chowdhury, the owner’s uncle and the family spokesperson at the news conference, apologized for the event and said the cashier should not have called police over what he described as a minor transaction. He said the store will "hire more people from the neighborhood" and host community initiatives to rebuild trust.
Police status and ongoing review
Little Rock Police Department public information officer Mark Edwards confirmed that Officer Thomas Shook is on administrative duty as the department continues its review. The department provided the report and body-camera materials that formed the basis of the community meeting. The specific status and timeline of LRPD’s internal review were not disclosed at the press conference.
| Key item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incident date | Aug. 9 (reported) |
| Person detained | Gregory Williams, 23 |
| Officer involved | Officer Thomas Shook |
| Outcome reported | No weapon found; officer on administrative duty |
At the press event, Freedom Fund leaders also asked the Valero owner to issue a formal apology directly to Williams and to signal changes in store policy that would minimize the need for police intervention in routine customer disputes.
Community advocates emphasized that the incident underscores broader concerns about when business employees call police and how officers respond in situations involving unarmed civilians. They said the footage reinforces longstanding calls for de-escalation training, clearer store protocols and greater oversight of law enforcement interactions with residents.
Chowdhury acknowledged those concerns and said the family that owns the store will take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. "It could have been resolved without police presence or even calling police," he said at the press conference.
The Freedom Fund said it will continue to press for formal commitments from the store and for LRPD to complete a transparent review of the officer’s actions. The organization did not announce any planned legal action at the event.
Little Rock residents who witness or experience confrontations at local businesses said they will be watching how the Valero and the city respond. Activists framed the episode as an example of how split-second decisions by employees and officers can escalate into traumatic encounters for patrons and families.
The department’s administrative review and any further actions by the Valero owner will determine whether the community’s demands result in policy changes or other remedies.
