Woodward Officer-Involved Shooting Leaves 19-Year-Old Dead After Police Pursuit
- mike33692
- 1 day ago
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Woodward Officer-Involved Shooting Leaves 19-Year-Old Dead After Police Pursuit
A Woodward officer-involved shooting is under investigation after a 19-year-old man was shot by law enforcement following a multi-agency pursuit Sunday morning. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says Noel Almandarez allegedly struck a man with a vehicle in Laverne, fled from officers and later attempted to hit an officer with his vehicle before the shooting.
Almandarez was pronounced dead after his vehicle then collided with an oncoming semi-truck in Woodward. The OSBI has taken over the investigation and will submit its findings to the Woodward County District Attorney's Office for review.
Woodward Officer-Involved Shooting Followed Pursuit From Laverne
The Woodward officer-involved shooting began with an incident approximately 60 miles away in Laverne around 6 a.m. Sunday, July 12.
According to the OSBI, officers with the Laverne Police Department responded to the 500 block of North Missouri Street after receiving a report that a person had been struck by a vehicle.
Officers found an adult man injured at the scene. He was transported to a hospital in stable condition.
Investigators identified 19-year-old Noel Almandarez as the person suspected of striking the man with a vehicle before leaving the scene.
Later that morning, a Harper County deputy located Almandarez's vehicle near U.S. Highway 412 and State Highway 283 south of Laverne. Authorities said the deputy attempted a traffic stop, but Almandarez allegedly drove away and a pursuit began.
Information about active state investigations and public safety agencies is available through the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Multiple Law Enforcement Agencies Joined Pursuit
As the pursuit moved toward Woodward County, deputies with the Woodward County Sheriff's Office and officers with the Woodward Police Department joined the response.
Authorities followed the vehicle into Woodward near the intersection of U.S. Highway 412 and Western Avenue.
The OSBI says Almandarez then allegedly attempted to strike an officer with his vehicle. An officer opened fire during the encounter.
Following the shooting, investigators said Almandarez's vehicle collided with an oncoming semi-truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The semi-truck driver suffered minor injuries and was treated and released. No additional injuries were reported during the pursuit, according to authorities.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol also assisted law enforcement during the incident.
Public safety and traffic information from state law enforcement is available through the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.
OSBI Investigation Will Be Sent To District Attorney
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is now reviewing the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the events leading up to the pursuit and the use of deadly force by law enforcement.
The agency was asked by the Woodward Police Department to conduct the independent investigation.
The name of the officer involved in the shooting has not been publicly released.
Once the OSBI completes its investigation, agents will provide a report to the Woodward County District Attorney's Office, which will review the evidence and determine whether further action is necessary.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not released additional details about what led to the original incident in Laverne.
Information about Oklahoma's district attorneys and the state's criminal justice system is available through the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council.