Arkansas Teacher Emptied 21-Round Magazine Into Brother During Family Dispute, Deputies Say

CLEBURNE COUNTY, ARKANSAS — An Arkansas teacher is behind bars after authorities say he unloaded a 21-round .40-caliber magazine into his brother during a heated family confrontation at a rural home in Cleburne County.

42-year-old Dustin Cannon has been charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of his brother, Austin Cannon, according to the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded around 7:10 p.m. Monday to a residence on Heber Springs Road North, where they found Austin Cannon dead on the back porch with multiple gunshot wounds from his torso to his neck.

“I Just Began Shooting,” Suspect Told Deputies

Investigators said Dustin Cannon admitted to the killing during questioning, claiming his brother had “threatened to kill his wife and daughter.”

According to court documents obtained by KAIT News, Cannon told deputies that when his brother “raised his fist to hit him, he just began shooting.”

The suspect said he fired every round in his gun — all 21 bullets — using his .40-caliber handgun.

Authorities believe Austin Cannon was initially shot while standing on the back porch, then shot multiple additional times after falling to the ground.

Family Tensions Over Money and Responsibility

A woman who witnessed the deadly encounter told investigators that Dustin had long been angry at his brother for “leaving his family and not working.”

She also claimed that Dustin mentioned their mother was considering removing Austin from her will, adding to the tensions between the brothers.

A search of the victim’s phone revealed profanity-laced text messages from Dustin just minutes before the shooting. According to investigators, Austin arrived at his brother’s home shortly after the final message was sent.

Teacher Held on $1 Million Bond

Authorities confirmed that Dustin Cannon is a teacher in the Bald Knob School District, located about an hour northeast of Little Rock.

He was arrested at the scene and booked into the Cleburne County Detention Center, where he remains held on a $1 million bond pending trial.

The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors review the evidence and witness statements.

This shocking case has left the quiet Heber Springs area reeling, with neighbors and students struggling to understand what led to such a violent act within a local educator’s family.

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