Deputy-Involved Shooting Under Investigation After El Reno Pursuit
- mike33692
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Deputy-Involved Shooting Under Investigation After Domestic Violence Pursuit In El Reno
An deputy-involved shooting is under investigation after a Canadian County Sheriff's deputy shot an armed suspect following a brief vehicle pursuit in El Reno Tuesday.
According to authorities, the incident began with a domestic violence investigation after a woman reported receiving threatening text messages from a man she knew. Investigators say the messages included real-time photos and videos showing the suspect holding a handgun, prompting officers to issue a be-on-the-lookout alert for his vehicle.
Deputy-Involved Shooting Follows Brief Pursuit
The deputy-involved shooting happened after a Canadian County Sheriff's Office deputy located the suspect's vehicle near the intersection of East Russell Street and South Williams Avenue.
Authorities say the driver refused to stop, leading deputies on a brief pursuit before pulling into a residential driveway.
According to Canadian County Undersheriff Kevin Ward, the suspect got out of the vehicle armed with a handgun and ignored repeated verbal commands from deputies. Investigators say deputies fired after the suspect brandished the weapon.
The man was struck during the encounter and transported to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Ward provided details of the incident during a media briefing following the shooting. The Canadian County Sheriff's Office has released preliminary information about the investigation at https://www.canadiancounty.org.
Domestic Violence Investigation Led To Police Response
Authorities say the confrontation began after the female victim contacted the El Reno Police Department, telling officers she feared for her safety because of threatening text messages she had received.
Investigators say the suspect allegedly sent messages containing real-time photos and videos of himself displaying a handgun, leading officers to believe the threats were credible.
Police then issued a be-on-the-lookout alert, which allowed a Canadian County deputy to locate the suspect's vehicle a short time later.
The El Reno Police Department assisted in the initial investigation before the pursuit began. Department information and public safety updates are available at https://cityofelreno.com.
OSBI Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting
As is standard procedure in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has taken over the independent investigation into the shooting.
The suspect remains hospitalized in critical condition and could face criminal charges if released from the hospital. No deputies were injured during the incident.
The two deputies involved have been placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard practice following an officer-involved shooting.
The OSBI is responsible for independently reviewing the actions of everyone involved, collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses and presenting its findings to prosecutors once the investigation is complete. Information about officer-involved shooting investigations is available through the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation at https://osbi.ok.gov.
An arrest is an allegation, not a conviction. Any potential criminal charges will be determined through the judicial process.
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