‘Sovereign’, based on West Memphis Police shooting, hits theaters Friday

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A movie based on the ambush killings of two West Memphis police officers along I-40 in 2010 is set to hit theaters nationwide Friday.

“Sovereign“, which stars Dennis Quaid and Nick Offerman, follows a father and son who identify as sovereign citizens, a group of anti-government extremists, who find themselves in a standoff with a police chief that sets off a manhunt after gunning down two police officers during a traffic stop.

The May 20, 2010, Interstate-40 ambush shootings of Officer Bill Evans and Sgt. Brandon Paudert

The film is based on the events surrounding the West Memphis Police shootings.

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On May 20, 2010, Officer Bill Evans stopped a white van with Ohio plates along Interstate 40 and called for backup.

Sgt. Brandon Paudert showed up within minutes, and both were shot and killed when a 16-year-old boy jumped out of the passenger side of the vehicle with an assault weapon.

Brandon Paudert was the son of then-West Memphis Police Chief Bob Paudert.

The hunt for the teenage gunman and his father ended in the West Memphis Walmart parking lot.

Jerry and Joseph Kane were boxed in and killed by officers at the West Memphis Walmart

Jerry, 45, and Joseph Kane, who were reportedly anti-government extremists, were shot and killed during a shootout with police.

“Sovereign” is playing at the Malco Cordova Cinema. You can watch the trailer here.

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