Authorities say a multi-county ordeal that began in Tulsa and ended with a traffic stop and crash in Inola left a man dead and a teenage passenger shaken. The teenager called Tulsa police, reporting that she was being chased and threatened with a shooting, and officers later tried to stop the vehicle on South 4200 Road. After the car crashed and gunfire erupted, the suspect died and another motorist was treated for non-life-threatening injuries as Rogers County investigators took over the case.
Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton told KJRH the chain of events started at a bar near 13th and Memorial in Tulsa, where a 20-year-old allegedly took a 17-year-old and severely beat a man who stepped in to help. Walton said the suspect then drove the group toward Inola, prompting calls about a reckless driver that brought out deputies and Inola police for a traffic stop. Once officers activated their emergency lights, Walton told the station, the suspect opened fire. The vehicle later rolled, crashed, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
FOX23 identifies the suspect as 20-year-old Holden Cothran and reports that he pistol-whipped the teenage passenger multiple times while driving toward Inola. According to the station, Cothran fired at the teen and at another man's Jeep near East 31st Street and Memorial Drive. The teen was not hit, and the Jeep's driver was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, and FOX23 reports that Cothran later shot himself in the driver's seat during the traffic stop.
Investigations Underway
Sheriff Walton said the Rogers County Sheriff's Office is leading the probe, with detectives reviewing 911 calls, witness statements and available footage. Tulsa police, who handled the teenager's initial call, are coordinating with Rogers County investigators as they determine whether additional charges or findings are appropriate, according to KJRH. Officials have not released the names of other victims while the investigation remains active.
Why This Matters
The case highlights how quickly violent domestic incidents can cross city and county lines, complicating the law enforcement response and the effort to collect evidence. Investigators are expected to seek body-cam and dash-cam video, along with cellphone footage from bystanders, to reconstruct fast-moving scenes like this one. Authorities have asked anyone with recordings or information to contact Rogers County detectives, as reported by FOX23.
Investigators say they have not released any additional identifying details beyond the suspect's age and that the probe remains active. Anyone who witnessed the events or who may have video is asked to contact the Rogers County Sheriff's Office, and authorities say they will provide updates as more information becomes available.
