Data about shootings by police officers can be hard to find, so The Frontier actively tries to collect and store as much information as possible on every shooting.
Know of an officer-involved shooting we missed, or have information on one we’ve covered? Contact us at dylan@readfrontier.com.
Past years
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March
Date: March 3
Department(s) involved: Hughes County Sheriff’s Office
Shot: Clovis Lee Reeves Jr., 45.
Race: Not released.
Fatal: No.
Armed: Yes with a gun.
Details: Authorities said they tried to stop Reeves for an alleged traffic violation, but he fled from officers. When he came to a stop, authorities said, he allegedly was armed with a firearm. It’s not clear if Reeves fired the weapon or pointed it at officers, but he was shot and hospitalized.
Date: March 2
Department(s) involved: Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office
Shot: Not released
Race: Not released
Fatal: Yes
Armed: Yes with a gun
Details: A man who was wanting for allegedly violating a protective order, threatening his wife and threatening to die by “suicide by cop” died during an encounter with officers. It’s not yet known if he died by suicide or was shot by an officer (3/07/24.) The man allegedly was picked up by an “innocent person,” and when he was found by officers, pointed his gun at them and fired. He was shot and later died at a hospital. “Based upon the preliminary investigation, it is not known whether the individual took his own life, or was struck by one of the deputies’ rounds,” Johnson County Sheriff Gary Dodd told KXII.
February
Date: Feb. 22
Department(s) involved: Altus Police Department
Shot: Valentin Benavides IV
Race: Not released
Fatal: Yes
Armed: Knife.
Details: All police have said is that witnesses reported seeing a man with a knife. Officers said they spoke with the man, who allegedly charged at them. He was shot and killed.
Date: Feb. 4
Department(s) involved: Bixby Police Department.
Shot: Christopher Veal, 55.
Race: White.
Fatal: No.
Armed: Yes, with a gun.
Details: Bixby Police responded to an early-morning domestic dispute and said Veal eventually fired “multiple rounds” toward officers, who returned fire, striking him. Veal was hospitalized, released and later booked into jail in Tulsa.
Date: Feb. 1
Department(s) involved: Oklahoma Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshals
Shot: Preston Lange
Race: White
Fatal: No
Armed: Yes, with a gun.
Details: Lange was being arrested for allegedly removing his ankle monitor after being released from prison. While authorities were attempting to serve the warrant, Lange allegedly shot at them. Officers returned fire, striking Lange, who survived.
January
Date: Jan. 20
Department(s) involved: LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office
Shot: James Williams.
Race: Unreleased.
Fatal: No.
Armed: Yes, with a gun.
Details: Deputies arrived at a home in LeFlore County after being notified of a domestic disturbance. The suspect fled the home, authorities said, eventually crashing his vehicle. He exited with a firearm, deputies said, and was shot. He survived.
