Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials say an armed man who ran from law enforcement was shot and killed.
OHP says GRDA tried to pull a suspected stolen car over in Pryor on Thursday morning. Officials say the driver took off and a short chase ensued before the car crashed into a pond on Sequoyah Drive.
OHP says agents from OHP, Mayes County Sheriff’s Office and GRDA were involved in the chase. The driver of the car, Claudia Taylor, was arrested and told officers the man in the car, Dustin Shirrel, was armed. Officials say Shirrel ran into the woods near the pond.
Investigators used dogs to track Shirrel and say he eventually came out of the woods and raised a gun. All three agencies fired at the suspect killing him. Schools in the area were placed on lockdown during the incident. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says Shirrel was on probation for possession of a stolen vehicle.
A neighbor who lives just 100 feet away from the deadly shooting told FOX23 he heard at least seven shots fired. Travis Henry’s father did not want to talk on camera but his son spoke on his behalf.
“Just surprised, we knew something was going on, but you don't think of it happening at your place,” said Henry.
Henry said he heard about the man hunt while he was at work and he wanted to try to tell his father, knowing it was in his dad’s neighborhood.
“I didn't want to call dad because I didn't want him to come home but I guess he found out about it anyway and came home,” said Henry.
His father was ok, but when he arrived home and went out back to his porch to see what was happening an OHP trooper told him to stay inside his home. He did and he locked his doors.
He and his son were pleased to see the situation under control.
OSBI agents were on the scene all afternoon investigating the shooting. Once the investigation is completed, a copy of the report will be delivered to the district attorney. The DA will determine whether the shooting was justified.
OHP identified the trooper involved in the shooting as Trooper Shawn Cummings, a seven year veteran of OHP. Cummings is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
